Harry Potter and His Impossible Wish for Peace and Normal

Contrary to what most had expected, Harry Potter decided to go back to Hogwarts for an 8th year instead of taking Minister Shacklebolt’s offer to immediately jump into Auror training.  He didn’t have a hard time thinking about it, really, in fact it was probably one of the easiest decisions he’s ever made in his life. After everything he and his friends had been through before and during the war, a year of normalcy and peace was all he could ever want, and so the moment a letter from Headmistress Mcgonagall arrived in 12 Grimmauld Place offering a repeat of 7th year- an 8th year to be precise, he had immediately expressed his wish to go back to Hogwarts.

He didn’t hesitate especially when he knew Hermione would undoubtedly want to go back to take all the N.E.W.T.S. she could take, and she was over the moon when he had told her he would be going back as well. She, too, wanted to spend a year with him and their other friends without feeling like there was trouble chasing them down. A year where they could just be carefree teenagers without fear of an evil megalomaniac threatening to return or take over the wizarding world.

Besides, Hogwarts was the perfect place to hide away from the media.

He was considered as the savior of the wizarding world- he was- “The Boy Who Lived Twice”- as if “The Boy Who Lived” title he had growing up wasn’t tiring enough. This time, it wasn’t just him- and a little part of him took comfort from that. They were now known as the “Golden Trio”, hailed war heroes- saviors, and quite frankly, people who didn’t deserve any privacy anymore. 

He was tired of it. Hermione was tired of it. Ron..well, he wasn’t exactly tired of it. They could tell he liked it a little despite his feigning complaints. And so, when he told Ron, who wanted to immediately jump on Minister Shacklebolt’s offer, that he would be going back with Hermione to Hogwarts, he was very less than pleased.

As much as he cared about his ginger-haired best friend, going back to Hogwarts was a final decision that couldn’t be swayed no matter what. 

Despite going back to a haunting place that was ravaged by war and plagued with death, Hogwarts, was still the first place he considered a home- one where he grew up in for six years. He wished to make a new set of memories in the place that could somehow alleviate the darkness it was painted in during the final battle.

Once the three of them had got on the Hogwarts Express- in spite of Ron’s incessant grumbling, to which he had to stop Hermione from hexing him, everything felt all right with the world- that truly , this was finally the year he had been desperately yearning for.

And for half a month or so, the year was nothing but normal and peaceful.

Although the start of the term was a bit rocky for the three of them- with Ron’s temper and grumbling about how going back was a complete waste of time. After two weeks, he had finally accepted that going back for an 8th year was exactly what they needed and had finally stopped acting like an arse about it. Though, Harry suspected a big reason for that was to get back into Hermione’s good graces and for Crookshanks to stop attacking him everytime he crossed the vicious half-kneazle’s path. 

Yes . Everything was peaceful and normal. 

That was until Draco Malfoy happened. Again .

It would’ve been easier to deal with if the blonde wizard was back to antagonizing him and his friends. But no. He was the exact opposite of that. In fact, a day after the great feast, he had personally and sincerely apologized to every single person he had treated badly with so much remorse you could practically feel it bouncing off of him.

He had even apologized to the three of them individually- for the years of antagonism, bullying and petty rivalry, and how he couldn’t do anything much else for them back when they were captured and brought to the manor. He had gratefully thanked Hermione and him especially for testifying for him and his mother at their trial- and that thanks to them, he had avoided being locked up in Azkaban.

Harry couldn’t doubt his sincerity. Neither could Hermione who he had poured his regretful heart out for every bigoted and hurtful word or action he had ever hurled at her. Ron was…well he claimed it to be a ploy to let their guard down.

Absurd, really. The Slytherins were suffering the most, Malfoy especially who was the object of ire of the entire school. 

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Ronald. He has no leverage and has nothing to gain from doing that.’ Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

Harry had agreed with such sentiment, but had decided to stay silent, not wanting another fight to escalate.

‘You say that, but somehow he’s still Head Boy. You should be furious, Hermione! You’ve worked hard to be Head Girl and this is all you get! Getting stuck with the likes of him! A Death Eater!’

‘Oh shut it, Ronald! He’s the same as us! Child-soldiers helplessly roped into war! He just happened to be on the other side-’

‘A death eater is a death eater! He was raised-’

Harry frowned to himself. Not this again.

‘The world isn’t just black and white, Ron! If it weren’t for him and his mother, we would’ve been dead! That act of defiance could’ve cost his family’s life-’

‘And I lost my brother because of the likes of him!’

Harry cringed, wishing for their fight to stop before one of them explodes.

‘We’ve all lost people, Ron. And I know you’re still grieving. We all are. But pointing fingers and blaming people for something they didn’t do just because of association just holds us back to the same prejudice of the past! We fought a bloody war to finally finally put a stop to that shite!’

‘Oh so now what? We should just forget what they’ve done? Is that it?!’

And by every row the two exchanged, the redder Ron’s face got- matching his hair, and the puffer- er- curlier Hermione’s hair got- as if it sparked up with her emotions. Both were not very good signs.

‘That’s not what I said and you know it!’

‘That’s what you’re implying!’

‘I just said that we shouldn’t point fingers and give people shite they don’t deserve. Not when they’re trying to make up for it-’

‘Just because Malfoy apologized doesn’t mean he’s changed. He’s still the same arrogant, stuck-up, bigoted prick-’

‘You don’t know that! You haven’t even bothered to try to be civil with him! He offered you a truce! You just cursed at his face!’

‘He deserved it! You and Harry are BARMY for even believing his rubbish! For even testifying for the git and his mother!’

Harry shot a look at Ron- one he unfortunately missed. Why did he get roped into this? He was eating his toast in peace. Peace!

‘RONALD!’

‘Please. Stop.’ He tried to intervene, but was ignored by the two who continued fighting.

Harry could only sigh.

He was going to have to pick sides again. It was always the same after every fight between the two- and shamefully, most often than not, he would choose Ron’s. Hermione would then distance herself from the two of them and would only make up when something crazy happens- usually trouble or something life threatening. He didn’t want trouble nor anything life threatening. He wanted normal and peaceful, and he didn’t want two of his best friends to fight and for him to pick sides.

To his utmost regret, choosing to stay silent was already picking a side. A side that he didn’t share the same sentiments with. Ron’s side.

***

Harry wasn’t sure what else had been thrown between the two after that, and it was Ron who seemed to have exploded and had said something that crossed the line- though if Harry was being honest, didn’t come too much of a surprise. Hermione stormed out after, hair and magic crackling. And though she didn’t avoid Harry in particular, she had opted not to go anywhere near Ron and since Ron stuck by him most of the time, she had stayed away.

It wasn’t much of a task for her to do so, especially since her room was in the Head Dorms. Though she talked and interacted with him normally whenever Ron was absent, otherwise she sat with Neville, Ginny and Luna, but mostly- to Harry’s chagrin…

Draco Malfoy. 

At the Slytherin table. In every class. At the library.

Much to everyone’s confusion and shock, and Ron’s vexation.

Yes. That fight was the start of his “normal” and “peace” slipping away from his fingers. Or perhaps it was what expedited it.

After Malfoy’s apology in the beginning of the term, he had noticed how Hermione and him had formed some kind of acquaintanceship.  They were cordial and polite to each other at first, with the occasional nod in hallways when they passed each other. Harry thought that should have been expected since they basically lived in one dorm together and had to work together for Head duties.

It wasn’t long after that such acquaintanceship turned into friendship that leaned more towards companionship. And that meant they started spending more and more time with each other. They would often be seen together studying in the library, doing rounds and patrols together, they were potion partners in Slughorn’s class, and would occasionally even sit next to each other in class- exchanging friendly banter and quips.

Their closeness was something Harry was not prepared for- but wasn’t something he thought to be out of the blue.

Now that Hermione was avoiding Ron, they were almost always together- other than the times when Malfoy had to go practice for quidditch. If pre-fight complaints and rants from Ron were already bad about the two being close- it was even worse after the fight. Even Neville and Ginny were tired of it- Luna would opt to get lost in her own world and only resurface when another topic would come about (miraculously). Ginny, in particular, had snapped one night in the common room.

‘Oh, would you give it a rest Ron?!’ Ginny glared at his brother, whose mouth was agape in shock at his sister’s outburst.

‘Hermione’s a grown woman! She can do whatever she bloody wants and YOU don’t get a say as to WHO she spends her time with! Even if it’s Draco sodding Malfoy!’

Ron’s face had crumpled and reddened at the mere mention of the name. He was about to talk back but Ginny did not give him any leeway to do so, standing up with her fists tightened as she continued…

‘She’s not your bloody girlfriend anymore! Frankly, I don’t even get just WHY she thought it was a good idea to even date you even if it was only for a month!’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?!’ Ron looked genuinely offended.

Harry had always thought his two best friends would end up together- with the way they danced around each other. But when they had gotten together a month after the war, Harry realized just how undeniably incompatible they were. Ron was in grief, and Hermione was troubled with the restoration of her parents’ memories, and instead of supporting each other, they had fought. A lot. And it was a miracle for Harry that they had managed to stay friends after Hermione had gotten back from Australia- thankfully, with her parents’ back to normal.

Hermione seemed to have genuinely moved on. That much he could tell. Or perhaps any deep feelings she had with Ron dissipated the moment he had left them in the Forest of Dean, and it was only impulsiveness and mangled tension of emotions that led them to date for a month after the war. Ron, on the other hand, was still somehow convinced that once things calmed down they’d find their way back to each other. If that ever happened, Harry thought they still wouldn’t work out. They were too different- and not the kind that complemented each other in a good way. It was the kind that was clashing that would lead to destruction- and he didn’t want that for the both of them.

‘Harry don’t you think so too?!’ Ron turned to him, making him snap out of his thoughts.

‘What?’

‘That Hermione’s just doing this to get under my skin!’

‘Huh?’ Harry was genuinely confused. Just what was he saying now?

‘Not everything is about you!’ Ginny said exasperatedly, before giving Harry a look to step in.

Harry sighed.

‘Ron, just apologize to Hermione.’

‘I will bloody not! She’s the one who should be apologizing!’

‘Apologize for what, exactly? Hermione was right. We should be over this house rivalry enmity shite, Ron. I’m tired of it.’

‘Are you seriously taking her side?’ Ron then scoffed. ‘Why am I not surprised? You two were in cahoots back when we were on the run, you defended that slytherin prick in his trial, and you goody two shoes even accepted his stupid apology! You’re all so self-rigtheous you bloody Chosen One! What? Did he Imperius the both of you to bring out that hero complex of yours?!’

‘Oh sod off you arse ! Don’t you think all those are a YOU problem? Self-righteous? Really ? When you’re the one galloping about talking shite about Slytherins who have- for the record- done nothing but stay quiet and mind their own business since the start of the term? And an Imperius? Really? His wand’s on probation! The ministry would’ve dragged him to Azkaban for Godrick’s sake!’

Now, Harry seemed to have lost it. His peace was deliberately being stripped away from him and he wasn’t liking it any bit. Staying silent obviously made things worse, and speaking up now would obviously make things a lot more worse, but at least he didn’t have to sit there and hear him talk shite about the witch who he considered to be the only family he has now. The only person who stood by him, who never left his side no matter how hard it got. And at the moment, he was being a shite friend to her by not sticking by her as well.

So, Harry was done.

‘Ron, apologize to Hermione. I don’t care if you listen to me or not.’

With that, Harry got up and left the common room to head back to his own dorm for peace. Peace- and not the figurative kind, but peace as the literal kind where there was no screaming and ranting. Just the dead quiet air kind of peace.

He decided to settle for that kind of peace for now.

***

Hermione was finally talking to him more now that Ron was avoiding him too now. He had opted to sit with Dean and Seamus instead, which encouraged Hermione to finally sit back with them at the Gryffindor table once in a while.

‘You’ve gotten pretty close to the Slytherins, huh?’ Harry said lightly and casually.

Neville and Ginny froze, thinking such was an opening to another fight between the Golden Trio. Thankfully, Hermione didn’t take it the same and had only smiled and shrugged.

‘They’re not so bad, actually. Occasional questionable dark humor aside, they’re quite fun to hang out with. You should join me sometime.’

‘And you and Malfoy?’ Ginny wiggled an eyebrow, a small knowing smirk playing on her lips.

The three of them didn’t miss the slight flush on her face at the mention of the name, making them exchange furtive glances at one another. Hermione sat beside Harry, facing the Slytherin table while Neville and Ginny sat across. For a brief moment, he saw her sneak a glance towards the opposing table, making Harry follow her gaze as well. 

Her eyes landed on a certain blonde-haired prat, who also looked back at her- meeting her eyes with a grin. A grin. Not his usual sneer or arrogant smirk, a radiant grin that made Harry doubt whether the blonde wizard was an imposter or not. 

Harry felt weird seeing the short exchange, like something was churning in his stomach.

Ginny cleared her throat before a playful voice rang out. ‘Hermione? You with us?’

Hermione finally turned away to look at them, a small sheepish smile on her lips as she tried to stutter a reply.

‘Y-yes? What was that?’

‘You and Malfoy? Is something going on between the two of you?’ Ginny looked at her with playful mock suspicion- which only made Hermione’s lips twitch, her ears creeping a blush.

‘We’re… friends... ’ she said in a low voice, a bit breathless even. As if there was something more to her answer that she was holding back, that she was hiding .

That kind of reaction rang alarm sounds in Harry’s head. To make matters worse…

Hermione Granger was blushing . Hermione Granger was acting coy and shy . 

And it somehow had something to do with Draco sodding Malfoy. Again .

‘Friends, huh?’ Ginny raised an eyebrow, while Hermione avoided their gaze and pretended to find her breakfast interesting.

‘For now?’

Harry looked up at Ginny flabbergasted. Harry’s head shook instinctively in protest at the thought the only daughter of the Weasley family was insinuating.

No no no. Please no .

His peace was already taken away from him, he can’t have his ‘normal’ be taken away too!

Deny it. Please deny it. Harry chanted and pleaded in his mind, staring at Hermione, waiting for an answer.

Hermione cleared her throat, gathering her confidence after relenting from the heavy stares directed at her.

‘I’m not going to…comment on that.’ She said a matter-of-a-factly as she looked at them primly, before taking one last bite of her toast.

She then got up and waved goodbye to them, gathering her things as she said something about having to get to class so as to not be late. A class they ALL shared. A class that was still an hour away.

This time, it didn’t miss Harry’s eyes how Malfoy had also quickly scampered out of the Great Hall the moment Hermione had prompted to leave as well. And he could’ve sworn. Sworn! That out of the corner of his eye,  Malfoy had taken her bag, slung it over his shoulders, and held her free hand, the moment they stepped out of the doorframe and turned a corner.

But no, he wasn’t going to admit it. He refused to admit it. He couldn’t even comprehend it. He didn’t see anything . If he did, he was seeing things. 

Despite repeating such denial in his head, there was a sense of dread gnawing at him- his gut telling him that there really was something and he really did see something . Something he wasn’t going to like, and something Ron would once again explode over- something the school - hell, the media too- would explode over. 

His normal. His peace. His eighth year.

He could see it all slip away .

Harry shook himself out of his clouded and chaotic thoughts.

If Hermione said they were just friends, then they were really just friends .

Harry winced at the thought he was insisting to himself, knowing there were so many things that were suspicious about the way she had acted when saying they were ‘friends’ . Nevertheless, he decided to push it aside. Until things DO blow up, he was going to act like the daft arse he usually was.

Nevermind the stealing of glances and knowing looks shared between the two that became glaringly clear to Harry right after that breakfast. Nevermind the increasing excuses to brush against each other or the lingering touches during potions class and the blushes that would creep up their faces right after. Nevermind the debate or banter between them dangerously veering towards flirting instead.

Harry was doing his utter best not to mind it at all despite being very much hyper aware of it. Unfortunately, they were making it excruciatingly difficult for him. They weren’t exactly subtle about it- and if they were- not subtle enough for someone usually clueless and oblivious as him to not notice.

***

It had almost been a month since Ron started avoiding both him and Hermione, which clearly meant that the ‘Golden Trio’ wouldn’t be spending the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend together. Of course, Harry could easily go with Neville, Ginny and Luna- but still, it was tradition for the three of them to at least hang out for a bit while there- to grab a butterbeer and maybe even a Firwhiskey at the Three Broomsticks.

Ron was clearly out of the question since he was still being an arse, and so Harry opted to at least be able to get a pint or two with Hermione, and so, Harry thought of asking Hermione about Hogsmeade that Friday night. Unfortunately, she didn’t come for dinner in the Great Hall- which wasn’t unusual since even back before the war she’d often skip out to spend time on reading or  working on homework, thus, Harry started his trek to the library the moment he had finished his dinner- missing the fact that a certain blonde-haired wizard was also absent in the Slytherin table.

Harry found Hermione in her usual nook in the library- which was a table at the hidden far western corner that was positioned before a window that showed a small peak of the Black Lake. It had been her sanctuary since their first year, and it had been a place where she would often do research on things that would help keep them alive for whatever trouble that was following them or they were going into that year. Though, Ron and Harry barely spent any time there- even when exam seasons were in full swing since they would opt for another table instead. 

It was her nook . Her corner . Her safe haven .

To say Harry was thunderstruck to see another occupant in the nook with Hermione was a complete understatement. 

Perhaps his reaction wouldn’t be too intense if said occupant wasn’t a blonde Slytherin who was currently leaning too close towards his curly-haired best friend. Perhaps his mouth would’ve stayed closed instead of gaping like a fish if said occupant wasn’t leaning in- lips brushing against his best friend’s ear, whispering something that made her giggle. 

Giggle .

Draco Malfoy had managed to make Hermione Granger giggle .

A feat Ron had never managed to achieve. In fact, the only person Harry knew who managed to make Hermione giggle was Victor Krum whom she had attended the Yule ball with back in fourth year  and whom she had  dated until the end of the first half of second term in their fifth year.

But the giggle wasn’t even the brunt of it. Rather, it was how said blonde occupant had an arm resting on the back of his best friend’s chair- playfully twirling a curl around a finger- with said best friend’s hand resting on the blonde occupant’s thigh that made Harry momentarily black out.

‘We’re… friends ’ Hermione’s response from a few weeks ago reverberated in his mind.

Just friends. Just friends. Just friends , Harry repeated like a mantra as he reassured himself.

Then a small part of him quipped internally, she didn’t say ‘just friends’  exactly, she said friends - maybe leaving out the ‘boy’ in boyfriend . She technically wouldn’t be lying if that was the case, Harry reasoned.

Bloody Hell.  Why did he have to overthink, and notice that detail? He should’ve just turned back when he saw she had company and sent a patronus after library hours were over- or at least when head and prefect patrols started. He did not have to see them like that , and he definitely did not have to dissect every detail he’d notice between the two of them.

Harry wanted to turn around and leave. He didn’t want to interrupt… whatever it was between the two. 

Whatever it was…

Perhaps friendly skin contact? Hermione had always been the touchy type. She’d hug and kiss their forehead or cheek sometimes. She was friendly that way. Maybe it was that?

But she doesn’t giggle. She laughs , yes, but she does not giggle .

Nor does she sit too close to them like that. Not even when Ron and her had dated. And as Harry continued to stare at them agape, they made no move to pull away or put some distance between them.

Then, to Harry’s horrification, the two had suddenly stared into each other’s eyes amidst the whispered conversations and soft laughs, and they inched closer and closer to one another- foreheads touching, noses brushing against each other.

Okay. Friends don’t do that.

That wasn’t normal.

Friends don’t stare at each other’s lips with their faces in such close proximity like that.

Friends- platonic friends , don’t have this much romantic gravitation pulling one towards the other.

Oh Merlin, please please please, don’t kiss. Harry cried internally, as he tried to prompt himself to move and leave without making a single noise.

Ignorant to Harry’s silent plea, his body stood frozen and to his complete and utter mortification, the two kissed .

To add salt to the wound, it was Hermione who initiated it- angling her face before pressing her lips to his- and the blonde prat actually kissed back- deepened it and returned it with a fervor that seemed so sincere that the two couldn’t help their sighs and smiles in between the kiss.

And it was in that moment, that Harry’s normal , Harry’s peace , withered away.

Okay . Friends definitely don’t kiss like that. Harry thought helplessly.

Finally gathering his stupefied, mortified, and horrified senses from the shock of it all, Harry casted a silencing charm and a notice-me-not on himself and around the area of the nook before quickly turning back and doing his very best to make his way back to his dorm without retching.

Friends my arse! Harry huffed.

Ginny and Neville looked at him with weird curiosity as he passed the Gryffindor common room and up his dorms with a face that looked traumatized and distressed- a face that looked as if Voldemort came back from the dead.

Who wouldn’t if you had accidentally witnessed your best friend- who you think of as a sister- and your childhood nemesis- though reformed (?) but still a git- snog as if the two of them only mattered in the world?

But …

If Hermione was happy - which she looked to be very much - the most he’s ever seen, then he’d accept it despite the trepidation and reluctance in his heart. He’d support her. No matter what.

But it was still a bit perturbing that Hermione had denied it and had kept it from him. And he knew she had her reasons, reasons he’d rather hear in person, reasons he wanted her to freely tell him.

I did stay silent and didn’t actively take her side the last time, so it was understandable why she would hide it. His inner voice supplied before any hint of anger or hurt surfaced.

Harry thought that there was truly only one way to get answers, to get the truth, to understand just what was happening. It was just simply to talk to Hermione.

He then decided to send a patronus after patrol hours when he was sure she was back in her Head dorms.

“Hi Hermione, I saw you and Malfoy snogging in the library. Cheers! Meet me at the Three Broomsticks tomorrow after noon for a pint? I need confirmation that I have not, in fact, gone completely mental . Just.the.two.of.us Or you can bring Malfoy too.. Not mad by the by! Just very confused! See you!”

Then the stag swirled around his dorm room once before prancing out towards the window to find his curly-haired best friend.

***

When Harry arrived at the Three Broomsticks, his eyes immediately scanned for the familiar golden brown locks of his best friend. Contrary to his hopeful wishes that it would only be the two of them alone, she sat waiting in a booth with the blonde-haired Slytherin she had- er- some kind of relationship with.

Nevermind how the two of them looked to be dressed up as if they were on a date, or how again they sat too close to one another.

Hermione looked nervous.  He hoped his patronus message didn’t give her much anxiety to ruin- er- whatever appointment they had before meeting him.

She was biting the inner bottom of her lip- a tell tale sign that she was worried about something. It seems Harry wasn’t the only person to realize such a habit since Malfoy had reached up a hand to gently rub his thumb on her chin to stop her from doing so. Hermione looked up at him, doe-like eyes emanating her worry, to which Malfoy had reached out once more to take her smaller hand in his- intertwining it before bringing it up to his lips to put a soft kiss on her knuckles. He then leaned down towards her ear, whispering once more, turning to meet her eyes ever so often as if he was whispering words of assurance to her to calm her down. To which, she visibly did if the small sigh she huffed out, her loosened shoulders, and the small grin that spread on her face was anything to go by.

At least she had someone with her to calm her down and reassure her- especially since his patronus message did end up making her anxious after all. Perhaps it was a good thing that… her boyfriend - er- ‘friend’ or whatever Malfoy was- came along with her.

He wasn’t going to assume- no matter how glaringly obvious- unless stated, confirmed, and verified what their relationship status was or whatever title Malfoy now held in her life.

To see isn’t enough to believe anymore. He had to see and hear- directly from the source, and maybe even have it put to writing now. Just in case he did in fact go barmy .

Harry neared the booth they sat in with a relaxed- albeit awkward smile and nod.

“Hey.”

“Harry!” Hermione flashed back a similar smile, before getting up and engulfing him in a hug.

When they pulled away, Harry turned to Malfoy who he gave an acknowledging nod and what he felt to be a somewhat constipated smile.

“Malfoy.”

“Potter.”  Malfoy, with his usual neutral aristocratic air- though slightly more stiff- nodded back.

“We…ordered ahead, if you don’t mind.” Hermione sat back beside Malfoy, while he slipped across the booth opposite to them.

“Firewhiskey?”

Hermione nodded, knowing right away that the conversation they were about to have needed more alcohol content than what a butterbeer could provide.

“Well…er- I hope I didn’t freak you out too much…with my patronus message and all…”

Harry tried to awkwardly start, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.  

‘Truly, how does one ask their best friend just how she ended up willingly kissing their childhood nemesis?’ Harry couldn’t help but ask himself.

“No..no..it didn’t. I mean it kind of did...since…” Hermione trailed, equally as awkward, looked down on the table before she snuck a knowing glance at Malfoy who had an eyebrow raised and a playful smirk twitching on his lips, then looked away with a flushed face.

“Right…er, sorry about that, Hermione.” Harry tried to give a reassuring smile.

Another silence engulfed the table for what seemed like a very long minute- none of the three wanting to bring up the topic that they were really there for. 

There were endless questions flooding in Harry’s head, all of which he didn’t know which to ask first, and to make matters worse,  he couldn’t seem to bring himself to break the ice.

Thankfully, a waiter finally came up to serve their orders, and true to her word, they had ordered a bottle of their finest whiskey.

Harry did not hesitate to gulp down the whole glass Hermione had poured him.

Another silence permeated the table, only the sound of drinks being poured and small clinks of glasses being lowered on the table could be heard. 

Harry, now with slightly more courage- just a very tiny bit- brought about by the firewhiskey, then prompted to break the excruciatingly awkward silence to finally address the elephant in the room.

“So…you and Malfoy, huh?”

Harry looked up from his firewhiskey to look at his best friend whose lips twitched  upwards despite biting her inner lips once again upon hearing the blonde wizard’s name.

Only Hermione Granger would smile- fondly at that- to a fallen name subjected to hate and scrutiny.  Despite the student body growing used to him-  there were still a lot of students in Hogwarts who hated him- mostly that from Gryffindor.

Hermione then finally looked up at him, eyes clear with resolution as she nodded and said,

“Yes. Me and Draco .”

Although Harry’s heard her say his name a few times in passing, hearing her say his name in a more endearing tone felt like he was hit on the back of his head. And with that, the reality that his best friend was really dating his former nemesis, slowly started to sink in.

“We’re together. We're in a relationship.”

Harry tried not to grimace and kept a calm face, nodding before replying, “Is it a casual thing or am I going to have to get used to him?”

A small part of him knew the answer, but another part of him wished for it to be the former.

“The latter.” Hermione said without any hesitation.

Harry groaned to himself.

“And you? Do you  have anything to say for yourself?” Harry raised an eyebrow at his former nemesis, keeping his voice casual- not wanting Hermione to think he was trying to antagonize her- now confirmed- boyfriend.

Malfoy had stared at him silently for a few seconds before nodding slightly and opening his mouth.

“Hermione and I are in an exclusive romantic relationship. Both feelings very much mutual -” Harry’s nose scrunched at that. As if he didn’t know that already after seeing them snog and look at each other so passionately.  “-No, it’s not a casual fling. No, I did not Imperius her nor used a love potion either. And No, this isn’t some elaborate plan or scheme to take down the Gryffindor Princess.”

“Rest assured, If I ever hurt her- which I won’t , not ever - never ever again - I’ll Avada myself or voluntarily offer you my head.”

Harry stared at him with his mouth agape, feeling himself go into shock. Hermione, though with a lesser reaction, also stared as if she didn’t expect him to be so direct.

It took her a few moments to gather herself,  before  glancing back warily at her stupefied best friend and then turning back to her boyfriend, whose upper arm she now held and gently squeezed- making his gaze shift to her- eyes softening as he did. She offered him a small smile.

“This isn’t a game to me, Potter. Just in case you’re thinking it.” Malfoy had told him in a more serious yet genuine tone.

“I get it, you’re dating.” Harry huffed, taking another sip of his drink.

“I wouldn’t term it like that. Malfoys don’t just date like it’s some kind of trial or error, Potter.”

He turned his gaze back to Harry, whose green eyes scrutinized him for any hint of malice, falsehood or lies but couldn’t see anything but a calm sincerity within the silver eyes that looked back at him.

“Date to marry, that’s what muggles call it, yeah?” Then, a small grin appeared on his face as he looked back at Hermione for confirmation of his- hopefully correct use of a muggle reference.

This time, Hermione’s eyes rounded, cheeks flaring as her mouth fell slightly agape again.

“Yeah?” Draco repeated in a softer tone, eyes slightly trembling as he held her gaze.

Hermione then nodded, her dazed expression waning as her lips pulled into a sweet and genuine smile. “ Yeah .”

Harry felt like he was intruding on a rather intimate moment. He didn’t think they were just agreeing about Malfoy using the muggle reference right-  it felt like something more was implied. Something only the two of them understood.

Harry looked away, looking back down at the drink in his hand with a sigh that was a mixture of relief, disbelief, and exasperation.

His normal  was definitely, officially, gone now. Because there was in no way, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger being in a relationship could ever be considered “normal”. Though his peace was ruined on occasion- especially with Ron being a great huge arse- the moment the school, the media- and worse he finds out, his wish for peace would be a fool’s dream.

Then, it struck Harry. ‘Oh Godric, it’s going to be utter chaos when he finds out.’

It truly didn’t help that Ron was under the impression that Hermione and him still had a chance of getting back together. Not to mention the delusion that they were meant to be. When he finds out Hermione will not in fact get back together with him, it will break him and anger him. If he finds out it was because she had another wizard in her heart- that wizard being Draco sodding Malfoy - he was going to lose it- a thought he had voiced out by accident.

“Ron’s going to lose his bloody shite.” Harry sank into his seat with both a frustrated and defeated sigh.

Such a remark seemed to have snapped the two out of their own world, turning their attention back to Harry.

A snort escaped Malfoy at that. “I was expecting you would lose your bloody shite too, Potter.”

Harry rolled his eyes. The blonde prat had no idea just how many breakdowns he’s had- and they were the kind of breakdowns where he couldn’t process things- doubting and denying what he’s seeing, trying to make sense of things that don’t make sense , and constantly asking himself whether or not he’s officially lost his bloody mind.

“Then again, you do seem more level-headed without that weasel -” Draco had continued but had stopped himself- feeling Hermione flash him a warning look- before clearing his throat, “-Without Weasley hanging around you .”

“On normal days, I would’ve kicked you for that statement- but I’m cross with him right now so I’ll let it slide .”

“Just in case you didn’t hear- I did correct myself.”

“Out of fear, I suppose.”

Draco scoffed, “What? Of you?”

Harry rolled his eyes. Even back before the war, Harry was absolutely sure there was never a time Draco Malfoy had felt any sense of dread, intimidation- much less fear , towards him. No. There was only one person among the three of them (Golden Trio) that could. It was…

He then shook his head, taking another sip of his refilled glass of Firewhiskey, before smirking.

“No, of Hermione .”

Now it was Hermione’s turn to roll her eyes. Harry raised a challenging eyebrow at the blonde wizard across from him who mirrored him before tilting his head slightly and smirking- and it was the infuriating kind of smirk that he would want to wipe off with a dirty dishrag. 

Unfortunately, there were no other dishrags nearby, and unfortunately, Hermione probably wouldn’t like it if he did so  if there was one around.

Harry didn’t know what response or reaction he was expecting from Malfoy, but what he had said and done in reply had just left Harry once again, dumbfounded.

“Well, yes , she’s always been a brilliant witch to be reckoned with.” The smirk Malfoy had sported turned into a grin, which widened genuinely when he turned to face Hermione and gently tucked another stray curl behind her ear. It was the same radiant grin that made him look like an impostor back in the library. 

Harry couldn’t help but huff in exasperation. Now that he knew that they were together, was he now going to be subjected to seeing them flirt and be so…affectionate?

Hermione met Malfoy’s gaze before looking away with another roll of her eyes, hiding the shy yet very much pleased smile that threatened to stretch her lips. Malfoy’s eyes didn’t leave her, his gaze only softening even more before he gently poked on the dimple that formed on her cheek- earning a suppressed giggle from Hermione and a playful glare.

“ Draco .”

“Hermione.”

They called out teasingly to each other, voices soft and laced with honey as they did so.

Malfoy had leaned closer, eyes clearly looking at Hermione’s lips. He was about to swoop down to steal a kiss when Harry- who absolutely did not want to traumatize himself, quickly intervened.

“Oh please, not in front of me - just, please .” Harry scrunched his nose as he looked at Malfoy- who didn’t really look like Malfoy since the Mafloy in  front of him looked to be a lovesick  git head over heels for his best friend- who, to his horror,  probably feels the same way.

If they started snogging in front of him, he was officially going to throw himself into the black lake to beg the giant squid to just eat him.

Malfoy’s stupid smirk only made a reappearance in response looking back smugly at Harry, while Hermione at least had the decency to mutter a small ‘sorry’ before turning away with reddened cheeks and a giddy smile before taking a sip of her drink.

Harry sent a glare at the blonde. Although he had no doubt that the blonde meant every word he had said and does, in fact, truly love and care about his best friend- he was a Slytherin through and through, which meant that public display of affection was clearly a ‘hitting two birds with one stone’ kind of thing for him- one bird being able to romance his girlfriend, and the other being to annoy the living shite out of Harry.

“How long has this been going on then?” Harry finally cleared his throat, wishing to clear what he felt like was awkward air.

“Uhm…just a week after the fight with Ron.”

Harry blinked. “That’s barely two months after the start of the term.”

Harry was honestly expecting that they hadn’t gotten together that long- estimating about three weeks or so. He didn’t expect them to have already started dating for two months- since the fight with Ron had already gone that long and they were a month or two from the end of the term.

“Hermione?” Harry called out casually, making the curly haired witch perk up and raise an eyebrow at him.

“Harry?’

“‘ Friends’ my arse .” He shot a small smirk before teasingly rolling his eyes, making Hermione let out a little laugh in the process as she realized what he was referring to.

“I didn’t know how you’d react…so…I’m sorry for keeping it from you, Harry.” Hermione looked at him apologetically, guilt clearly showing on her face.

Harry could only shake his head, “No, I’m sorry, Hermione. I should have immediately told Ron to sod off.”

“If it’s worth anything, If you’re happy, then that’s all I can ever ask for, Hermione. Even if it’s Malfoy who happens to make you happy.”

Hermione’s eyes watered slightly, guilt washing away as a grateful and heart-felt smile stretched onto her lips.

“Thank you, Harry.”

“I’m still not calling him that, you know.” He heard Draco whisper to her, which made Hermione roll her eyes again- watery eyes fading away as she did so.

“Just don’t call him ‘ scarhead’ and I won't be cross with you.” She whispered back.

‘Scarhead? So still an arse.’ Harry thought to himself, finding a bit of relief at that fact. Malfoy being an arse was normal - which made him think maybe them being together won’t eviscerate his normal entirely. Of course, that was what Harry wanted to tell himself to feel better.

“Like you could ever stay cross with me.” A playful tone was whispered back, this time his lips brushing the back of Hermione’s ear.

“Would you like to test that theory?” Hermione, challenged, raising an eyebrow.

“Definitely not. I’m a Slytherin, I know of self-preservation.”

“Not so confident now, huh?”

Malfoy had shrugged his shoulders before replying with another playful grin- something that obviously looked to have triggered butterflies fluttering in Hermione’s stomach.

“I just really rather prefer being in your good graces, love. That way I can..” 

The last part had trailed into a lower whisper- something that made Hermione’s cheeks beet red- a deeper blush that she had sported so far. Harry couldn’t help but be thankful that he didn’t hear whatever he had whispered. If he had, he probably really would’ve thrown himself into the Black Lake the moment he got back on Hogwarts grounds.

The two were getting lost in their own world once again, and so Harry had to clear his throat to remind them of his existence.

“I’m still here, you know.”

Again, Malfoy only looked back at him smugly while Hermione only gave him a sheepish look.

Harry shook his head, and despite himself, a small smile graced his lips. Despite the initial horror of it being Malfoy- of all people- he was still glad his best friend had someone she felt happy and comfortable with. And he could tell Malfoy was someone who could give her the space to be herself- the kind of space he and their other friends couldn’t be for her- like being someone to talk about her endless knowledge- or debate to her about issues and topics to challenge her.

“Who else knows? About your relationship?” Harry asked, taking another swig of his firewhiskey.

“Only my friends. Blaise, Theodore, and Pansy.” Malfoy had answered.

“And Luna.” Hermione added

Harry raised an eyebrow, recalling that Luna had been with them in that particular conversation during breakfast in the Great Hall weeks ago. Though, Luna had always been more perceptive than the rest, so it wouldn’t be a wonder that she had known about the two longer than anyone did- probably knew even before Hermione and Malfoy themselves did.

Then, it dawned on Harry. He then looked at Malfoy with a serious and stiff face. “And what of your parents?”

Harry thought bringing them up would bring the temperature around their table down- something that would cause such heavy tension. Although the war was over and many pureblood families have fallen out of grace and the Slytherins have seemed to have been somewhat reformed with their beliefs, there were still blood supremist tendencies in the wizarding world- though it being tip-toed around lest be associated with being a Death Eater and all.

Malfoy, again, just shrugged.

“My mother knows of my relationship with Hermione. I told my mother my plans to court and pursue her even before Hermione agreed to be my girlfriend, and she told me I had her full support. Probably knew I secretly fancied her back then, too .”

Malfoy had muttered the last part, but Harry had heard nevertheless.

“Excuse me?”  Harry’s eyes bulged in both shock and disbelief.

“My father has no say- he’s in Azkaban after all, and now I’m head of the family. I can do what I want. I can be with who I want.”

Harry alternated his gaze between the two. They were looking at each other again as if they were in their own world- Hermione leaning against his shoulder as she looked up at him with another sweet smile, to which a gentle smile and a soft gaze was returned to her by the blonde.

Since the two didn’t look the least bit worried, and Hermione was the smartest person he knew whose judgment had kept them alive all throughout the war, he was definitely not going to say anything about it anymore, Harry thought.

Harry decided the piece of information he heard as a mutter was something to pry about another day- or not. It seemed to be information that was too intimate for him to know. 

“Are you planning on keeping this a secret, then? Because if you are, as someone who’s supposedly bloody oblivious, the two of you are as subtle as a pompous hippogriff.”

The two scoffed at him, as if his concern was unwarranted.

“Do you two really think you’re being subtle? I, Harry oblivious fucking Potter, ACTUALLY caught on to the both of you.”

“We’re…not planning to hide it anymore. Well- we weren’t even trying to, really, in the first place.” Hermione confessed.

“Are you forgetting our conversation weeks ago?” Harry raised an eyebrow at her.

“Although I was scared to tell you at the time, I was hoping you’d catch on and get suspicious either way. Suddenly…coming up to you and confessing just felt weird. It was just…better to get caught.”

Harry thought about it, and though it made sense, that still cost him weeks of agony and denial. But then again, he should’ve confronted her about it sooner. Why did he have to go and traumatize himself first by seeing them snogging in the library to finally try to talk about it with his best friend?

“Since sca- Potter knows, does that mean I can snog you in hallways now?” He heard Malfoy whisper teasingly again, a playful smile on his lips and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Draco!” Hermione giggled, whisper yelling before swatting his chest lightly in admonition.

“We can't do that…it's against school rules.” she shyly muttered.

Malfoy had only chuckled before swooping down and stealing a kiss.

Harry groaned as he rolled his eyes at the two. ‘Really? Right in front of him?’

‘Was Malfoy always such a flirt?’ He clearly remembered him just being an overall sneering person. Then again, they were each other's nemesis so there was no surprise that an image of him as such was burned into his brain. The Malfoy in front of him was foreign, and the reason why he saw such a side was probably only because of Hermione who somehow brought it out of him.

Harry then finally finished the last of the firewhiskey in his glass before settling his glass down, sitting straight and looking at the two. 

“I’m happy for you, and I support you. Just don’t be all over each other in front of me, please , I beg of you.”

***

Since that Hogsmeade weekend, Harry knew the moment the two decide to make their relationship public- er, to be precise, to take their public displays of affection out in the open- the peace and normal he had wished for his eighth year would wave its final goodbye. Of course, there was still hope where it would only be a momentary disruption- a temporary goodbye, but a part of him knew that it would take a while before things simmered down. Truth be told, what he worried for the most would be the friendship between the three of them- him, Hermione, and Ron. Harry, no matter what would happen, was adamant and sure to be on Hermione’s side this time around.

A few more weeks after that Hogsmeade weekend, Ron seemed to have finally come around. He had approached Harry first, finally admitting- albeit very slightly- how much of a git he was being and that he was going to try to apologize to Hermione. Harry was supportive of that, and so he had agreed to help his red-haired best friend when he had enlisted his help. What he wasn’t supportive about- in fact, very much against- were his plans to court Hermione, ask her out, and get her back- a fact he had left out from Harry before dashing away with the Marauder's map in hand to stalk where Hermione currently was and ambush her with a bouquet of flowers and a supposed reservation to Madame Pudifoot’s (a place even Harry very much knew Hermione didn’t like).

And so here Harry was, dashing down the corridor to stop his red-haired friend from doing something utterly stupid. Something that will definitely land him a hex from Hermione- or something that will definitely lead him to a confrontation with Malfoy. And he was very sure Ron would come out as angered and defeated when it all plays out.

Harry was sure the two lovers were currently together- well, they were almost inseparable in the first place. And so at that moment, he could only hope that Ron would find them whilst they weren’t being disgustingly sweet- or worse, snogging. He was hoping they were carrying out head duties or seriously studying- and not the kind of studying where they would play footsie under the table or where they’d end up cuddling over a book- because Harry had once made the mistake (one he very much regrets) to actually study with them (not that he wanted to, really, but it was either that or fail an essay in Transfiguration), and though helpful and insightful they actually were  and he ended up finishing and passing his essay with an “exceeds expectations”(Malfoy helping him truly took him by surprise), their consideration for someone who didn’t want to be subjected to their mortifying public displays of affection was basically non-existent despite his plea back then in the Three Broomsticks.

‘ Draco …Harry’s here…’ He heard Hermione whisper across from him, a lilt of a giggle ghosting her lips as he scribbled on his parchment.

‘He’s busy. He won’t see. Just one kiss, love.’ A mischievous hushed whisper replied.

Harry blanched. He says that and they just end up snogging .

Harry had never been so motivated to finish an essay so quickly.

It was a Friday night just right after dinner, and he wasn’t sure whether his food just didn’t sit right in his stomach or it was a premonition that something bad- specifically explosive anger kind of bad- was about to happen.

“Ron! Wait!” Harry called out as he finally caught up to Ron who was on the path to the Head Dorms.

“Oh good, Harry! I was thinking of sending a patronus to ask you if you knew the password to the Head Dorms.” Ron halted, waiting for Harry to reach him. He was still holding onto a bouquet of roses, a grin on his face.

Harry knew the password to the dormitories. Since he was now privy to the real nature of the two head students’ relationship, Hermione had told him the password- not that he’d ever use it to enter without informing them first. They were already nauseatingly affectionate outside their dorms- the last thing he would want to happen was to accidentally walk in on them- er- do more than just snogging. If that ever happened, he would either throw himself off the Astronomy tower, feed himself to the children of Aragog, or be swallowed whole by the giant squid.

“Oh- I don’t-” Harry feigned but was immediately cut off.

“I heard from Neville that you knew.”

Damn it, Neville. He had to retrieve a herbology book for Neville from Hermione’s dorms, and since Hermione was preoccupied at the time (on a date with Malfoy) she had told the two boys to just go and get it since Harry knew the password.

“Come on, mate. I’ve been a right arse, and I just want to make things right. I can’t get her alone with me since she’s with that death eater scummy git most of the time- but, I just really want to set things right between the two of us.” Ron scratched the back of his neck as he confessed.

‘That won’t ever work out if you keep calling her boyfriend a death eater scummy git.’ Harry remarked in his head. Even if the great blonde git wasn’t her boyfriend, she would probably still be cross with him if he continued calling him death eater scum. Hermione and him testified for Malfoy after all, and they deemed him innocent enough to defend.

“Ron, don’t call Malfoy that. Hermione won’t like it.”

Ron rolled his eyes. “Are you defending him now, too?”

“I’m not sure you recall, but I testified for the git.”

“I know that. But at least you’re not hanging around with him acting all so close and friendly! Hermione’s being ridiculous! And when that death eater ends up hurting her, she’ll see I was right all along!”

Harry winced internally. He knew for a fact that Malfoy wouldn’t ever hurt even the smallest hair on Hermione- not anymore, and most definitely never ever again like before. He still didn’t like Malfoy, but seeing the two together made Harry admit- although with much trepidation and reluctance- that he treated her right, treated her as she so well deserved, and he was good for her and they were good and happy together. Of course, he wouldn’t ever admit that to Malfoy. He was reformed but he was still a pompous arrogant git. 

“If you keep talking like that, I’m not going to help you, Ron.”

“Oh come on, mate! Even you have to admit this charade Hermione’s on is barmy!”

“It’s not, Ron. I’ll be cross with you again if you keep this up.” Harry gave him a serious and unmoved look. They ignored each other for a month and though he hated the rift between their trio, he wouldn’t hesitate ignoring him again if he kept being an arse.

Ron heaved a sigh and shook his head.

“Fine. Look, I just want to apologize to Hermione, alright? Why don’t we head down to the portrait to the head dorms, you enter and talk to Hermione to see me for just a bit and I’ll wait outside.”

Harry stared at his red-haired friend, scrutinizing him as he thought about his proposition. It wouldn’t be so bad, he thought. At least he could be there to intervene if something goes awry- to which his gut feeling was saying that there was indeed something that would go very much awry but still hoped everything would go down smoothly and peacefully instead. 

“Fine. Just apologize. Only apologize. Lose the bouquet.” Harry said with a relenting sigh before stepping aside Ron and heading calmly towards the Head Dorm’s portrait.

“But it’s…my peace offering.” Ron reasoned, moving to his feet as well to follow him.

‘I doubt it. Peace offering my arse.’ Harry thought with a roll of his eyes. A bouquet of red roses doesn't exactly scream peace offering . It would be slightly understandable if it were her favourite flowers. But roses were not, in fact, her favourite flowers. She loved carnations and peonies instead- and to Harry’s shame, he had only found out such a fact after Malfoy had given her a bouquet just a day or two ago to ask her out to the upcoming Yule Ball next month. He didn’t even have to ask her since it was a given they were going together- but Hermione had gushingly told Harry that he said he did so since he had overheard what Ron had done to her back in fourth year and didn’t want her to feel that way ever again.

Malfoy being such a sap was something he couldn’t decide whether he liked or hated. Liked- because at least he knows Hermione was being treated right- hated because it was a weird look on him and he can’t even poke fun of the blonde about it since he looked to be high and proud that he was, in fact, smitten and down bad for his witch. How people still didn’t catch on that they were together was beyond him. Although they weren’t outright affectionate out in the open for the entirety of Hogwarts to see- they were plenty obvious- and very much shameless in front of the people who did know.

“Well..don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Harry muttered under his breath as he finally slipped out of his thoughts and reached the portrait.

He looked over his shoulder, signaling Ron to step back further so as to not hear him say the password. And perhaps he should’ve casted a Muffliato on him and a sticking charm on his feet, since, the moment he had uttered the password and the portrait door swung open, Ron had pushed him aside, yanked the door open and rushed in the Head Dorms.

“What in the bloody fuck-” Harry managed to cuss out, realizing he was shoved down the floor, before getting to his feet to drag Ron back out.

“For Godric’s fucking sake! Ron!” Harry bellowed out in anger, as he stomped into the Head Dorms.

The scene he walked into made him want to hit Ron, and at the same time, made him want to carry out his earlier thoughts of jumping down a tower or being eaten or swallowed by magical beasts.

Ron was frozen still in shock and anger, the bouquet of roses he had in hand dropped on the floor creating a mess of petals. Second by second he turned a dangerous shade of red as if preparing to combust as he glared at the two lovers who looked to have been in the middle of undressing each other half naked with Hermione straddling Malfoy's lap who was seated on one of their common room's chaises- his lips pressing kisses- sucking on the flesh of her exposed chest.

Harry wished Ron had knocked his glasses off his face when he was shoved, that way he wouldn’t want to scrub his eyes and brain seeing his best friend in a very compromising position with her wizard. Why couldn’t they have shagged in one of their rooms? It was literally only a few feet away from them! Then again, it wasn’t their fault since nobody else was even supposed to be in their dorms except for them.

Malfoy seemed to have gotten his bearings first after a few seconds, and had immediately pulled Hermione close and covered her shirtless torso with his despite him not wearing a shirt himself- covering her from their view.

“What the fucking-?! Weasley! Potter!  Get the hell OUT!” 

Harry’s mortified and stupefied state finally broke, as he immediately grabbed the collar of Ron’s shirt and roughly tried to drag him back out. They were halfway back out when Ron seemed to finally come back to  his senses and had fought back from Harry’s grip on his collar. 

“Malfoy you fucking death eater git! Get away from her!” Ron shouted at the very top of his lungs

Unfortunately, Ron was much taller and so Harry was unable to stop him from rushing back into the common room. Harry did his best to hold his red-haired friend back, but he was stronger and way angrier,  and for some bloody reason Harry couldn’t for the life of him find his wand on his own person.

‘An incarcerous would be very much helpful right now.’ Harry groaned as he held onto Ron’s arm who was flailing about and shouting profanities at Malfoy.

“Ron for Merlin’s fucking sake calm down!” Harry bellowed out amidst his struggle- to which was ignored with more shouting.

‘Where the hell is my wand?!’ Harry panicked to himself, patting around for his pants to reach for the pocket it was supposed to be in with his free hand.

Regrettably, that had weakened his grip on Ron and he had managed to get out of Harry’s grasp- quickly stomping back to the common room area.

Harry cursed again, stumbling when Ron yanked himself away.

Out of all the ways Ron could find out of their relationship- the worst and most devastating had to be the one to happen. He really had to catch them shagging each other! As if finding out the two were in a relationship wasn’t enough to garner an explosive reaction from Ron!

Fortunately, something came out of Harry’s stumbling. It turned out his wand had clattered outside his pocket and onto the ground when he had frantically followed Ron inside the Head Dorm after he was shoved. Harry had immediately picked it up and rushed back in to follow Ron.

“Incarcerous!” Harry immediately bellowed out as he pointed his wand towards his red-haired friend.

Ron stumbled sideways as his whole torso and legs were immediately bound before he could try to pounce on Malfoy who was shrugging his white oxford shirt back on. Thankfully, it seemed he had prioritized getting Hermione dressed first seeing as how she was now wearing a slytherin jumper that had fit her like a dress. Though, it seemed Hermione was truly, very obviously, and very much visibly embarrassed getting caught in such a position as she stood behind Malfoy, a hand gripping the fabric of the shirt around his waist while the other had braced itself on his shoulder blades as she pressed her forehead against his back- hiding herself from their view as much as possible.

Malfoy, who sensed his witch’s distress, unfurled the hand that had gripped his shirt and had intertwined it with his instead, rubbing soothing circles with his thumb.

The blonde then turned his gaze towards Harry who looked exasperated, stressed and irate as he rubbed his temple with both hands as if he was having a bad headache and paced about the small area from the hallway to where Ron continued struggling from his binds as he shouted something along the lines as ‘Traitor!’, ‘Harry! How could you?’, ‘Get me out of this! Now’, or ‘Malfoy you fucking git!’.

Malfoy, who felt like going deaf from the ginger’s incessant screaming, had wandlessly summoned his wand and casted a silencing charm around the room and on Ron.

A few seconds of silence had finally engulfed them after the casted spell, heavy tension permeating the air as they all stared at the feral Weasley bound and on the ground.

“Potter.” an icy voice called out- calm yet had a dangerous lilt beneathe

“Explain.” His head tilted towards Ron.

Harry let out a heavy groan and sigh, his pacing stopping to a halt as he turned to look at the two- though avoiding their eyes- scrambling for words to say.

“Ron wanted to apologize to Hermione. I was going to come and talk to Hermione to see if she wanted to talk to him but Ron shoved me out of the way when the portrait door opened and stormed in.”

Malfoy, who had a scowl on his face, then raised an eyebrow and eyed the bouquet of roses on the ground. Harry didn’t know it was possible, but his scowl worsened- his face hardening as he saw the flowers.

Another sigh came from Harry. “His ‘ peace offering ’”

Malfoy scoffed at that, glaring at the red head then at the roses, then at Harry. 

“You bloody fucking idiots” the blonde let out a frustrated sigh as he waved his wand again and the roses and its petals had quickly vanished. 

Harry furrowed his eyebrows. He understood that it probably wasn’t a pleasant feeling to have another bloke give your witch flowers- red roses at that- but it’s not like Harry didn’t try to stop Ron from giving her flowers. Furthermore, it’s not like he could say ‘Hey, Malfoy will deck you if you give his girlfriend red roses.’ So why was Harry now being sweared at when he literally threw an incarcerous at his supposed red haired best friend.

Malfoy then turned his back to face Hermione, untangling her grip on his back. He gently took hold of her shoulders, his eyes scanning her up and down as if to check for injuries, a hand lifting her chin as he inspected her cheeks and neck, rolling up the sleeves of his jumper that she wore to check her arms.

Harry’s eyebrows scrunched further as he realized that Malfoy looked frantic and panicked despite his still calm demeanor as he checked Hermione over. Was something wrong? Harry’s stomach churned.

He then whispered something to her in her ear that Harry couldn’t hear. Hermione’s eyes slightly widened at what he said, looking down at the ground where the roses previously were, before looking back up at Malfoy and shaking her head.

“Nothing. I can breathe just fine as well.” She heard her say in a low assuring voice.

Harry’s eyes slightly widened. Shit. He thought to himself, a sense of dread filling his stomach.

Malfoy’s hands then came up to her cheek, looking into her eyes as if to assess that she was telling the truth, that she was, in fact, alright.

“Are you sure?” He heard Malfoy whisper, voice slightly trembling as he asked.

Hermione melted into his touch before giving him a small reassuring smile.

“I’m okay, Draco.” She whispered back again, covering a hand that covered her cheeks and leaning into it further, turning as she placed a gentle kiss in the inside palm of his hand.

Malfoy, who looked convinced and satisfied after doing a once over again, finally nodded and released a breath he looked to not have noticed he was holding.

“What is…?Is Hermione…?” Harry willed himself to speak up, gulping as he tried to ask.

Malfoy turned back at him with a hard glare, while Hermione flashed him an apologetic look when she sneaked a glance at him before looking away- remembering her previous embarrassment.

“Hermione’s deathly allergic to roses. Especially red ones.” Malfoy supplied his shameful lack of very vital knowledge of his best friend.

Harry mentally cursed himself, sitting himself down on the settee closest to him- not even bothering to hesitate and overthink whether the two lovers had defiled the said settee.

“ Merlin fuck - Hermione…I’m so sorry - oh- gods .” Harry bemoaned, rubbing his face with his hands as he looked back up at his curly haired best friend with an expression painted with absolute guilt and regret.

How the hell could he not know about something so important about her? How could he not know about an allergy that was supposedly severe enough to kill her? How does Draco Malfoy- someone she had only gotten close to from the start of the term- know better than him, her best friend since their first year in Hogwarts? 

“It’s alright, Harry.” Hermione gave him a reassuring smile before continuing with a light voice, “We haven’t encountered roses so much here in Hogwarts or in the past seven years, and I don’t exactly go telling people what flowers may possibly kill me.”

“But Malfoy knows.”

“Draco’s just nosy.” Hermione reasoned- eyes sparkling with mischief as she looked at the blonde, earning a little teasing pinch on her hip from Malfoy who had a small smirk on his lips despite the playful jab.

“Then maybe as your best friend, I should’ve been nosy too.” Harry ignored the lovey-dovey display and continued to wallow instead. 

“You’re plenty nosy enough, Harry. Barging in here with- well..uh-” Hermione trailed off unsurely as she glanced at Ron who was now glaring and fuming at the three of them as he took a few more attempts to break free and shout despite his binds and the silencing spell cast upon him.

It was only then that Harry had remembered Ron was still with them in such a state. Oddly enough, Harry couldn’t be bothered to get him out of it.

“Right- er, sorry about that. I should’ve sent a patronus first or something. Ron- like I said…” Then Harry recounted to the both of them what had happened since Ron had apologized to him and they started talking again (sort of).

“Red roses? Really? How original .” He heard Malfoy mutter under his breath as Harry recalled how he chased Ron down the hall earlier ago and found him with the bouquet in hand.

“Madame Pudifoot’s? The place is barbaric-” Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and had barely stopped her immediate reaction of distaste towards the place.

Harry knew that Hermione didn’t like the teashop due to very unpleasant memories back in fifth and sixth year. The shop looked almost identical to that of the office of Umbridge- doused in pink and frills, and though Hermione has nothing against pink and frills- the scheme itself gave her war flashbacks of the great pink toad in their fifth year. Not to mention it was the place where Victor and her frequented back in fourth year and for a few times in fifth year before they had broken up, and though it was a clean break up and they continued to remain friends, the place started to become a place she would avoid during said year. Then, in sixth year, when she had gone out with Cormac McLaggen, the daft, lecherous, and bastardly wizard had taken her there and seemed to frequent the place as well and so it was all the more reason to dislike the place.

“You didn’t think that way when you went on dates with, Victor .” Harry wiggled an eyebrow to tease, glancing from the corner of his eye to see Malfoy’s reaction.

The blonde snorted and rolled his eyes at the mention of the quidditch star’s name.

‘Annoying Krum’ he heard the blonde mutter disdainfully under his breath before tightening his hold around his witch.

Perhaps such muttered statement would be the only thing Malfoy and Ron could possibly agree on. They both found Krum intolerable despite him not doing anything remotely wrong- in fact he was a decent bloke, Harry thought. But to them, perhaps Krum had committed the biggest crime- and that was being Hermione Granger’s first love and first boyfriend.

Hermione briefly glanced at Malfoy before chuckling, poking his cheek, making his sneering face soften and turn to her. She then pressed a small kiss on his lips- earning a small grin from the blonde- before turning her gaze back to her best friend.

“Anyway. Ronald seems to have calmed down. We should lift the spell and unbind him now.” Hermione then glanced at Ron who was still on the floor, glaring at them- most specifically at Malfoy and the hand he had wrapped around her.

Harry sighed before nodding, getting up from where he was seated to mutter a finite and free his red-haired friend.

Ron had immediately got to his feet and stomped over the chaise Hermione and Malfoy sat leisurely in each other’s arms- already putting behind the previous embarrassment of being caught quite intimate with one another.

“Get. Your. Hands. Off. MY. WITCH.” Ron sputtered, face crumpling as his feral eyes pierced through calm grey ones.

Harry winced from where he stood. After everything he’s witnessed since he stomped in their Head Dorms, it left Harry speechless of how Ron still couldn’t grasp the nature of the relationship of the two. Either that or he was going through the denial phase Harry had before the two confirmed their relationship- but then again, Harry wasn’t that slow or delusional.

“ Your witch? Frankly, I only have my hands around the lovely witch who’s agreed to keep me as hers .” Malfoy had replied, voice bored yet firm in his statement- as if there was no room for doubt yet was frustrated at how he had to explain to Weasley of all people.

Harry was pleasantly surprised with Malfoy’s answer- who he had initially suspected to immediately claim Hermione as his witch instead of Ron’s. Harry would never admit it, but compared to Ron who almost always said the wrong thing to Hermione -which would often result in royally pissing her off , Malfoy knew the right things to say. 

Perhaps he had to give the blonde wizard credit. He observes , he asks , he listens , and he remembers . Even the littlest and most trivial of things, Harry thought. Like how she liked making her tea, like how she would bite her inner lip when nervous, like knowing her favourite flowers or the flowers that would kill her, like how Hermione, in fact, likes being romanced and asked out on dates- even just very brief ones like a short walk by the Black Lake or mundane ones like studying or readings novels in their nook in the library- and as of the current case, Draco Malfoy knew how Hermione Granger hated any kind of insinuation of someone owning her like some prize or trophy - like she was some kind of possession to be had.

“Don’t ever talk about her like that ever again, Weasel- ahem - Weasley .” Malfoy had warned in a calm yet still slightly threatening voice.

And the git still managed to remember how Hermione didn’t like the names he used against him and Ron despite the tension in the room being at its peak- despite Ron being extremely rude, and despite Ron menacingly trying to pick a fight.

Perhaps that was why Hermione ended up liking Malfoy. Harry could somewhat see it now- or, to be concise, he could finally admit it now, rather.

“Ha! What would Hermione want with the likes of a death eater that should have been thrown in Azkaban?” Ron hissed, fists clenched- which Harry eyed hoping he wouldn’t throw any punches because if he did, he would have to bind him again.

“RONALD!” Hermione stood up, furious, going toe to toe fearlessly with Ron who towered over her.

“Ron!” Harry had warned under his breath with gritted teeth as he stood beside Hermione with a disapproving frown directed at the ginger.

“What? Are you two sticking up for him again?! What’s he done to the both of you to keep turning you against me?! Clearly I’m the only sane one here!” Ron bellowed out with rage.

“That’s because you’re being a bloody idiot , Ronald!” Hermione shrieked at him, eyes blazing and hair crackling.

“Ron, I warned you and we’ve been over this.”  Harry glared.

Ron targeted his glare on Hermione.

“Do you really think Malfoy, that blood purist git would be serious with a mudblood- i mean muggleborn- like you, ‘Mione? You’re supposed to be smarter than falling for his stupid-”

Harry’s eyes bulged out, his anger spiking up upon hearing the vulgar word come out of his supposed best friend’s mouth. Before Harry could retaliate and give Ron a piece of his mind, Ron was cut off and pushed back by a flash of blonde hair whose previous calm comportment was replaced by a wizard who was now seeing red. Figuratively and literally, since he had grabbed and lifted Ron by the collar, eyes hard with a very much angry scowl on his face.

“Don’t fucking call her that. Don’t ever fucking talk to her like that. Don’t even fucking think about her like that, Weaselb- Weasley .” Malfoy seethed.

“Draco! Your probation!” Hermione immediately held a hand on her boyfriend’s upper arm as she exclaimed with worry.

“I can’t use a wand, but I can deck this git of a friend of yours with my bare hands.”

And Malfoy didn’t look like he was bluffing, at all. Unlike Harry, Malfoy was way taller- and he was even an inch taller than Ron. Furthermore, compared to his gaunt look back in sixth year and his trial before the term started, he had filled out and was much more muscular now, and so Malfoy’s threat was definitely not just empty words. Getting decked by the blonde would probably hurt as hell.

Though Harry wondered as a side thought whether a punch from Hermione would hurt more. With the emotional aftershock that would come along with it and all.

“Draco, please. Don’t. I don’t want you to get in trouble, please.” Hermione said in a gentle pleading voice, her hand squeezing his bicep as she laid her forehead against his shoulder.

Malfoy’s death glare remained, but he had visibly loosened his hold before sighing and letting Ron go and taking a step back. 

“I’ll make you regret ever saying that, Weasley.” Malfoy scowled.

Hermione had immediately wrapped an arm around Malfoy, rubbing his back and engulfing him in a half hug as she pulled him back from Ron.

Like a tamed smitten snake , Harry thought to himself, before returning his gaze back to Ron who straightened his jumper with  heightened aggression.

“I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, ‘Mione.” Ron started with a mist of dramatization as his anger turned into hurt.

Harry, and the two lovers included, looked at him strangely.

“To give us a second chance. Because I believed we were meant to be - we are meant to be.”

Silence.

“We’re supposed to be.” Ron insisted, then glowered- his anger rising once more as he burned his gaze at the blonde man he hated with all his heart and the witch he was deluded to believe was his true love.

“And you really threw all that away to be with the likes of a slimy git like him-”

“Oh Ron for Godrick’s sake, just stop .” Harry, with an exasperated breath, cut off Ron’s sputtering.

“You and Hermione barely acted like a couple when you did date. All you did was fight! I should know! Because I was always in the middle of it! And Ron, most of those fights- were because of you .”

Ron’s mouth fell agape at Harry’s assessment of their previous relationship- shattering the false memories he had painted in a very different light.

“Godrick! Hermione always cried because of you! From first year up to the bloody fucking war! You probably had made her feel more like shite than Malfoy ever had when he was a piece of shite back then.”

He heard an awkward cough at that- which probably came from said blonde. 

“ For the record, he still is- ” Hermione interjected in a small muttering whisper that had a teasing tone to it.

Malfoy had rolled his eyes before his lips tugged upwards between a genuine smile and smirk before he teasingly pinched her waist in response, earning a small squeal from the curly haired witch as a tickle ran down her spine from the gesture. 

“ But I'm your piece of shite, yeah?”   He heard Malfoy whisper back- a seductive tone in his voice.

“Mmhm. My one and only.” 

“Because you love me?”

“Hmm. That could be a reason.”

“Oh? What other reason could there be?”

“Another one would be too much to handle, don't you think?”

Harry couldn’t help but roll his eyes internally. The two really had the audacity to flirt in this kind of situation, Harry thought exasperated but decided to ignore it.

“Ron, you and Hermione getting back together will- and  I say this with the utmost certainty and with greatest sincerity out of concern for you- will never happen . It won’t . Not when she’s clearly not in love. Well- I mean- she is, in love, just not with you.” Harry said catching his breath after, his hair even more disheveled as usual as he finished his tirade.

Ron was left stunned speechless for a minute. He would've expected such a lashing from Hermione- which of course would ultimately break his heart- but for it to come from Harry of all people made it hurt even more. Ron could've claimed Hermione being too emotional or upset at him for not seeing the bigger picture of what their relationship could be, but for Harry- from an outside person's point of view, their best friend at that that who's witnessed everything between them so far- to say they didn't belong together felt much more impactful.

Those were Ron's initial thoughts, Harry guessed, judging from the look of hurt he sported once he had absorbed everything said. But then, his face twisted in anger once more.

“He's definitely imperiused the both of you! You’re both bloody fucking barmy! I'll tell the headmistress to-”

It was then that Ron was cut off once again, but this time, it was by a great mass of orange hair that had seemed to have launched on his head and attacked him.

It was Hermione's ugly cat. Crookshanks.

The three of them stood dumbfoundedly once more as they watched Ron helplessly flail his arms around to get rid of the orange monstrosity attacking him- the half kneazle yowling as if scolding Ron in the process.

“This bloody fucking cat-!” Ron grunted.

“Good job, Mr. Crookshanks! He’s such a good boy.”  Harry heard Malfoy praise the vicious half-kneazle in a whisper.

Harry looked at him weirdly, the expression on his face disagreeing with the blonde wizard’s sentiments.

The cat was a menace, that was a fact. Although he’s never truly had an altercation with the orange familiar like Ron, it mostly either glared at him from a distance or ignored his presence altogether. The cat looked like it hated everyone and everything, and it wasn’t afraid to show it. Nobody who’s ever come across it would ever describe it- let alone praise it fondly . Yet there was Malfoy looking like he was actually really proud of the cat. Though the reason for that could be because he was attacking Ron at the moment, the lilt in Malfoy’s voice implied that he seemed to like the cat. 

Hermione turned to look at him, not sure whether to laugh or scold her boyfriend for the remark. She chose to shake her head with a small chuckle, before looking back at Crookshanks who had finally relented after chasing Ron out of the Head Dorms.

The half-kneazle then strutted towards the three of them- tail wagging pompously and victoriously, head held high. Harry slightly flinched when the cat passed him when it was well on its way towards the couple standing beside him. 

Again, to his surprise, it was Malfoy who crouched down to pick-up his girlfriend’s menacing cat without any caution or hesitation. And the cat actually let the blonde git pick him up and pet him.

The cat was prickly and would scratch or bite whoever tried to hold or pet it. Yet it seemed to like Malfoy. Harry couldn’t help but scoff as he watched Malfoy stroke the orange menace in his arms.

“I believe Mr. Crookshanks deserves the finest treat for tonight. Don’t you think so, love?” Malfoy asked, and the cat actually purred at the praise.

“Well- I- you can’t always keep giving him caviar as a treat, Draco. He’ll get used to it too much.”

“And why not? He deserves it. Don't listen to your mum. I’m on your side on this, Mr. Crookshanks. We’ll get you that treat.”

And the cat actually meowed back in satisfaction, closing its eyes and rubbing its head on Malfoy’s hand as if to encourage even more petting.

Hermione could only scoff as she looked at the two- expression tittering between finding the scene heart melting or ridiculous that it felt like they were ganging up on her. Harry, on the other hand, could only just gape at yet another sight that just wasn’t normal. A sight that just seemed so surreal and so weird to look at that it had left him dumbfoundedly speechless.

‘Mr. Crookshanks?’ Harry asked in his head, confused and amused.

Malfoy, a pompous arrogant git, was actually calling the orange-haired menace of a half-kneaze as ‘Mr. Crookshanks’.

Ah . Was that why the two of them got along? The two felt a bit similar. Harry concluded to himself as he willed himself to blink and snap out of his dazed state.

“I should…follow Ron and make sure-” Harry trailed his words, feeling awkward as he felt like he was intruding on a rather domestic-like moment between the two lovers and- er- Crookshanks.

Malfoy had stalked to the kitchen amidst Harry’s stupor and a helplessly chuckling Hermione who looked at the blonde and her familiar fondly.

“I’ll handle him, Hermione. And sorry again for this…and what happened.” Harry scratched the back of his neck as he apologized and reassured her that he was going to deal with the aftermath of Ron’s anger.

Hermione smiled at him with a look of relief and gratitude before enveloping him in a hug.

“Thanks for having my back, Harry.” She murmured, emotion filled in her voice as she pulled back to look at him.

“And thanks for…supporting this. Us.” She held his hands, fiddling with it a bit before glancing at Malfoy who was pulling out Crookshank’s bowl and pouring out a jar of caviar from a cupboard that was charmed for chilling like that of a refrigerator in the muggle world.

“Well, you’re happy. How could I not be when you are?” Harry smiled, genuinely happy for the witch he considered as a sister. The witch who had stuck by him no matter what. And he was going to do the same.

Harry finally bade goodbye, giving a small nod at Malfoy before turning to leave. As he walked down the hallway towards the portrait door of the Head Dorms, he heard their distant voices.

“Draco! Not too much! You’re spoiling him!” Hermione chastised.

“I can’t hear you.” Malfoy sing-sung playfully.

“ Draco !”

“Oh dear, It seems my hand slipped and I put too much. It’d be a waste- ow ! Hermione !”

“ Meow ” He heard the satisfied yowl of the half-kneazle.

“Look how happy he is, love. That’s all that matters- ow ! Fine , but if he sulks you’ll be the one appeasing him.”

“Crookshanks won’t need appeasing, Draco.”

“I meant me . Weasel- Weasley walked in on us when you were giving me my promised treat . We were in the middle of appeasing my-”

“ Oh gods, Draco! ”

“Yes. That was what you were supposed to say once I’m inside of-”

Harry quickly covered his ears as he made a mad dash towards the door and closed it behind him shut.

He had almost gotten the mental image he walked into earlier outside his head. Harry cringed and groaned to himself. Did he really have to hear that conversation too?

Harry wondered whether he’d ever achieve the peace or normal he was desperately wishing for before the start of the term. The two of them alone couldn’t seem to allow him respite from their displays of affection- whether by intention or not.

Then again, at least there wasn’t a noseless dark wizard going around trying to wreak havoc and kill him anymore.

Perhaps Harry could settle with that kind of peace and normal instead.