When worlds collide

"Harry James Potter!" Hermione’s voice was a fierce blend of anger and exasperation, her eyes blazing. "Do you have any idea what you’ve put me through?!"

Wade and Peter, still frozen, watched with wide eyes, unable to do anything but take in the scene unfolding in front of them.

"Thirty Nine bloody hours!" she shouted, her voice trembling with the weight of her emotions. "Thirty Nine hours, Harry! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"

She paced in front of him, her hands flying as she continued to berate him. "I wake up—DROWNING, mind you—in the Bethesda Fountain, ALONE! And you don’t have the common sense to pick up a bloody quill and let someone know you're alive!? Firecall someome?! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione cut him off, “I'm not finished speaking,” and he promptly shut his mouth with an audible click.

Her words came tumbling out in a rush of frustration and exhaustion. "Draco’s a wreck, Harry. He nearly had a bloody heart attack! And you? You can’t even bother to firecall your friend or fuckbuddy your bloody fling or whatever the hell you two are calling yourselves now?!"

Draco. That name twisted Harry’s gut. He couldn’t help but feel guilty, but all he could do was stand there, rooted to the spot.

“I didn’t have a fireplace or an owl Mionie!” Harry tried, his voice hoarse with frustration. His mind raced for a way to justify his actions, but Hermione didn’t give him a chance.

Slap! She hit him again, harder this time, and Harry winced. "Do you even read the books I give you, Harry?! Do you?!”

“U-umm… I skim…” Harry admitted, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks.

Hermione’s face went red, her fury reaching new heights. Without warning, she slapped him again, sending him stumbling sideways.

"SKIM?! Harry, you don’t SKIM a damn book when it’s something that could save your bloody ungrateful life! Magical international emergency protocols, chapter 7, America!" she shouted, her eyes blazing. "If a wizard is lost in America and doesn’t have access to any magical means of communication, they can go to a MACUSA station and get a bloody floo, owls, whatever else they need! I firecalled Draco two nights ago Harry! Two! We waited for you all bloody night Friday and all day Saturday! Luna was in tears, Neville had a bloody nervous breakdown! Draco nearly drove himself into St Mundigo’s with worry!”

Harry stood there, dazed, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no idea just how much he’d put his friends through, how much worry and pain they’d endured in the time he’d been missing. It hit him like a wave, crashing over him with force.

“I think we found her,” Wade’s voice mumbled out through the tension, his whisper barely audible with his frozen state.

Hermione waved her hand to unfreeze him and Peter and turned back to Harry hand on hip, “explaim yourself this instant!”

Harry turned toward him, eyes wide with desperation. "H-Hermione, the muggles… you broke the Statute of—"

He was cut off by yet another sharp slap. "Ouch! Hermione, you’re going to give me a concussion!"

"Good!" she snapped, her voice a mix of exasperation and affection. "Maybe then you'll learn to read the bloody literature I give you!!!"

"Hey, I read that one!" Harry argued, though he could feel the sting of her criticisms. "The protection of the Statute of Secrecy! You can’t reveal magic to muggles! I read it!"

"Did you READ it, or did you SKIM it?" Hermione challenged, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"If I say ‘skim,’ will you hit me again?" Harry asked, wincing in anticipation.

“That means he skimmed it,” Wade whispers to Peter quietly and Harry looks back at him angrily.

Hermione’s eyes narrowed, and before he could react, she began swinging wildly, hitting him over and over wherever she could reach, making him duck and dodge. "Chapter 19, section 3, subsection 11," she recited, her words sharp and steady, "As of the 1970s, particularly due to the Paris Peace Accords, mutants were classified as non-muggle personnel and deemed immune to the Statute in cases of emergency. If magical beings need to reveal their existence for any reason, they can."

Harry’s confusion deepened. "Soooo?"

"So, your two new fuckboys, Spider-Man and Deadpool, are mutants, NOT muggles. They’re allowed to know about us if we decide it’s necessary," Hermione said, her arms crossed and a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. "I assumed you told them after your little…sexcapades."

Harry sputtered, his face turning redder than a Weasley’s hair. "I—We—We didn’t–we slept together but we didn't SLEEP together! We just…I just met them for Merlin’s sake! I didn't—" he stammered.

"Oh, don’t give me that!" Hermione scoffed, her eyes flashing with amusement and annoyance. "You're practically Europe’s National Fuck Boy! And the only time you disappear without a word is when you find something cute to play with! Peter’s adorable, and sooooooo your type. And Wade? Well, he's basically identical to that German bloke you were obsessed with last fall. You expect me to believe you've been here NOT fucking!?”

"I didn’t… I mean… We just hung out," Harry muttered, flustered and embarrassed.

“And you made them blueberry pancakes,” Hermione said, sniffing the air as if she could smell the evidence. “Your post-orgasm breakfast in bed routine.”

Harry turned an even darker shade of red. “I didn’t! We just—I LIKE COOKING! That doesn't mean we…”

“So I'm not the first man you made these pancakes for after spooning you to sleep?” Wade pouted.

Harry shot him a look, “not helping,” he said through gritted teeth.

"Fine," Hermione said, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Deny it all you want, but if you ever disappear again without firecalling, writing a letter, or letting anyone know you’re alive, I will make it my personal mission to make your life a living hell. Got it?"

Harry nodded, too stunned to say much more. Hermione’s anger seemed to drain away in the next instant, and before he could react, she rushed forward and pulled him into a crushing hug, burying her face in his shoulder. “I missed you,” she whispered softly, her voice thick with emotion.

“I missed you too,” Harry murmured, his arms wrapping tightly around her, feeling the weight of the past two nights lift slightly.

A soft, awkward cough came from behind them, and Peter’s voice broke the moment. "So… this is Hermione?"

Harry pulled back, giving a small chuckle despite himself. "Yeah," he said, his voice a little strained. "This is Hermione."

Wade, lounging on the couch with a smug grin, raised an eyebrow as he motioned for Hermione to come in. "Come on in, Mione. Make yourself at home.”

Hermione scoffed, ignoring him completely, and marched straight for the breakfast table. She didn't bother with pleasantries, simply grabbing a plate, loading it up with food, and plopping down in a chair to eat. Peter, who was still holding the coffee from earlier, walked over and sat down near Hermione with an uncertain look. He offered a small smile, but Hermione only grunted, grabed his Frappuccino and glarred at Harry. She took a sip, eyes narrowing as she tasted the sweetness.

"Boys, you should know," she began, her voice still carrying the sharp edge of frustration, "I'm usually more hospitable. But I drowned in a bloody fountain two nights ago, okay? Then an incredibly breathtakingly handsome muggle man pulled me out looking like a drowned RAT! He performed CPR for close to half a bloody hour, then proceeded to look absolutely distraught when he realized I was dead, only to freak the fuck out when i woke up anyway gasping for air like a bloody beached wale! You know, just another Friday night for me really. Then I had to walk 16 miles to the nearest MACUSA station to use a fireplace to call Draco."

Harry was wide-eyed, clearly taken aback. "Hermione, you—what? You walked 16 miles?"

She shot him an irritated glance but continued, "Yes Harry, because unlike some masked vigilantes around her I didn't WANT to be on the cover of every bloody paper in New York city!” She said, tossing a newspaper on the table pulled from seemingly nowhere.

On the cover was a photo of Harry, masked with a cape billowing in the wind looking like a real superhero stopping bullets from hitting a woman and child while spider man was poised on the hood of a car and Deadpool stood with a tied up bad guy. It read, “New Crime Fighting Trio?”

“We made the cover?!” Wade exclaimed.

“Yes, of EVERY paper!” Hermione exclaimed. harry looked down sheepisjly but had to admit it was a damn good picture.

“Anyway,” Hermione continued as Deadpool read the article, “me, Draco, and the others stayed up all night waiting to hear from you. Then waited all DAY Saturday! After I got tired of waiting, I decided I'd find you myself." Hermione smiled with a small, almost smug smile. "So, I modified a locating spell and used it to narrow your location down to New York. Then, I used a different tracking spell to pick up the magical signature of the Deathly Hallows, knowing you'd have the wand. I tracked that to the Hudson River and found out you were with these two.”

Harry leaned forward, clearly impressed but still stunned. "How did you—?"

"Simple," Hermione interrupted, her tone casual now, as though it were all no big deal. "I used a History Revelious Charm to see what happened at the river in the last 24 hours that was even remotely magical, saw you get pulled out by these two," she gestured to Wade and Peter, "did some research at the nearest library to find out who they were. Then figured out Spider-Man was Peter Parker—yeah, secret identity my arse—tracked down his address, found receipts from food places near this apartment, and ended up here."

Harry blinked, his jaw slack. "That’s... that’s impressive."

"Yeah, and you're the one who vanquished the Dark Lord," she said with a smirk, though there was a flicker of relief in her eyes.

"So, how'd you find me?" Harry asked, still processing the sheer brilliance of her methods.

She rolled her eyes, clearly growing tired of the questions. "I convinced a few neighbors to give me the apartment number of the ‘freak in the red suit,’ and came right in.

Harry was speechless, staring at her in awe. "Hermione, that’s... incredible."

"Yeah," she said, "and people say you're the next merlin…couldn't find your way out of muggle New York of all places.”

"Wait, wait," Harry said, still processing. "And you tracked me all the way here from London?!”

"Yep," Hermione replied simply. "And now you’re gonna call Draco and tell him you’re alive."

Harry paused. "With what fireplace, Mione?"

Her eyes narrowed as she stood abruptly. "Don’t start with me," she muttered. "If you read the bloody books I gave you," she mumbled. With a flick of her wrist, she cast several spells on Wade’s fireplace, muttering under her breath. "There. Now it’s connected to the Floo network temporarily for 24 hours. Now go!”

Harry hesitated, eyes flicking between the group. He grabbed some Floo powder, tossed it in, and said, "Greengrass Malfoy Manor."

The flames erupted, and a voice echoed from the other side. "Hello? Who's there?”

"Hey, Dray," Harry said casually, though his voice betrayed a touch of nervousness.

In a split second, Draco climbed through the Floo with a scowl that was instantly recognizable. "Harry James Potter!" Draco bellowed, eyes blazing. "Do you have any idea how long you’ve been missing?!"

Harry, ever the troublemaker, couldn’t resist. "Thirty nine hours?" he teased.

And without warning, Draco slapped him upside the head.

Wade, leaning back in his chair with a laugh, called out, "Man, tough crowd. Tough crowd."

"Ow, Dray!" Harry whined, rubbing his head. "What was that for?"

Draco, seething, pointed a finger at Harry. "You’re lucky you’re still alive! Do you have any idea what I went through? We waited for hours! Hours, Potter! Luna cried the entire night, Neville had a bloody breakdown, and I almost drove myself into St. Mundigo’s with anxiety! Astoria wants to ring your bloody neck!”

Harry winced, shifting uncomfortably under Draco’s fiery glare. "Sorry, mate," he muttered. "But I’m here now."

"Not good enough!" Draco snapped, crossing his arms tightly. "You call me the second you—"

Wade raised a hand, cutting him off. "Hey, hey, can we get a break here?" He turned to Harry. "You want I should get you someplace safe dude? No need for all the slap-fests."

Hermione scoffed. "Only Harry Potter could make a mess of even a phone call."

Peter laughed under his breath as Draco glared at Harry with all the pent-up concern of someone who had almost lost a person they cared about. Harry couldn’t help but grin sheepishly. It felt good see him again, even if it hurt his head.

“Don't you dare smile Scarhead!” Draco screeched. “This is not endearing in the slightest!” He punctuated with another slap. “And you will NOT run away and avoid this!”

Harry winced, rubbing his stinging cheek. "Draco, I—"

"No, shut up!" Draco snapped, cutting him off. "You think you can just disappear for days without a single word and we won’t be worried? You vanish without a trace, and I’m supposed to just sit back and wait?!" He narrowed his eyes, his anger giving way to something more dangerous. "If you ever disappear like that again, I swear to Merlin, I’ll hunt you down myself and if you're alive i will KILL you myself! If you're stupid enough to get yourself killed?! I will find a way to ressurect you so I can kill you again!” He screamed grabbing Harry by the collar of his shirt and dragging him closer.

Harry raised his hands in surrender, trying to calm him down. "I didn’t mean to cause—"

But Draco wasn’t done. He turned to Peter, still holding Harry by the collar, and his gaze softened for a moment before he smirked. "Oh, Harry," Draco drawled with a wicked grin. "You didn’t Firecall because you found a cute boy?" He arched an eyebrow, the smirk growing wider.

Harry sputtered, his face turning bright red. "No! That’s not it at all!"

Wade, who had been silently observing the exchange, leaned back with a raised eyebrow and asked, "How often does this happen, playboy?"

Harry, still flustered, shook his head quickly. "Never! Never happens! Seriously!"

Draco let go of Harry letting him hit the ground hard and crossed his arms, clearly unconvinced. "Riiiiight," he drawled. "So the time you went missing in France for a day and a half and wound up with that pretty little blonde french boy never happened then?" He raised an eyebrow. "Or when you first fucked me and disappeared for two days without calling and Hermione blew up my foyer to come find you?"

“Okay…not fair! The French guy saved me! I was kidnapped for a day and he saved me and then I…made it up to him. I called Mionie right after!” Harry protested. “And the thing with you…Ginny had just left me for Godrick's sake! I was drunk and emotional!”

Hermione, who had been quietly enjoying the chaos, chimed in with a mischievous grin. "And the time you went to Bulgaria for that Quidditch match with Viktor, who looks surprisingly like Wade over here, and came back three days later with no word at all? I almost waged war against the Bulgarian prime minister. I only needed 3 more signatures…”

“Okay, that one was not my fault!” Harry protested. “It was a misunderstanding. I told Viktor to write you because I was tied to a bed! And he said he did. I didn't know he sent the owls to Ron! He thought you two were still together!”

“And the scotish bloke with the bulging muscles and his very pretty smaller friend that you somehow got lost in the alps with for 3 days before I practically blew up the mountain to find you?” Hermione added with a smirk.

Harry groaned, sinking into his chair. "Okay, okay! It happened once or twice! But that was an excursion and we were supposed to do it without magic and we DID get lost!”

“Yeah…so when we found you sandwiched between them in the tent that was you finding your way?” Draco countered.

Harry groaned exasperatedly, “Ugh! Okay a FEW times. But it’s not like that this time!" He threw his hands up, exasperated. "I swear, it was different this time!"

Draco looked at him, unconvinced, but then his attention shifted to Peter. He appraised him with a cool, calculating gaze, walking over and inspecting him like a prized possession. "He’s pretty, Potter," Draco said, almost dismissively. "Not as pretty as me, but close enough." He gave Peter a sly smile, and Peter, completely caught off guard, blushed deeply.

Draco leaned in closer to Peter and said, "Listen, Harry’s a darling gem, and you treat him like one, understood?" His tone was sharp, but there was an underlying warmth there.

Peter nodded awkwardly, still trying to recover from the fact that Draco Malfoy was scrutinizing him. "I—I mean, were not exactly…I mean we didn't…”

“Understood?” Draco pressed.

Peter gulped, “Yes sir.”

Draco gave him a satisfied nod before turning to Wade, who had been standing by, clearly feeling the weight of Draco's attention. Wade fidgeted, shifting from foot to foot under Draco's intense scrutiny.

Draco didn’t say anything for a long moment. He simply circled Wade, sizing him up with an intensity that made Wade feel like he was being inspected for battle readiness. Finally, Draco stopped in front of him, fixing him with a piercing gaze.

"This one will do too," Draco said, his tone almost appraising. "Rugged, handsome... but if you hurt Harry, I will hurt you." His eyes darkened with warning.

Wade, ever the smart aleck, raised an eyebrow. "I can’t die."

Draco’s lip curled into a cruel smirk. "There are things worse than death," he said coldly. "Hurt Harry, and you’ll find out. I promise you."

Wade swallowed, giving him a wary look. "Alright, alright, I get it."

Draco then turned his attention back to Harry, his anger fading into something else. He marched up to Harry, grabbing him by the shoulders and pulling him into a tight, almost possessive hug.

"Never scare me like that again, Scarhead," Draco growled, voice thick with emotion. "You’re lucky I didn’t kill the Minister when he refused to invade America to search for you.”

Harry, still a little stunned by the intensity of it all, wrapped his arms around Draco, the familiar comfort of the embrace grounding him. "I’m sorry, Dray," he whispered. "I didn’t mean to scare you."

Draco pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, his gaze softening. "We missed you," he said quietly, the harshness in his voice gone. He kissed Harry’s cheek gently before pulling him back into the hug.

Hermione rolled her eyes, though there was a small, knowing smile on her lips as she watched them. "Honestly, Draco, you're so dramatic, throttling the poor boy.”

“You slapped me around more than he did!” Harry exclaimed.

Peter and Wade exchanged a glance, both still a little taken aback by the scene that had just unfolded. Wade couldn’t help but lean in and whisper to Peter, "This is one wild family, huh?"

Peter nodded, still wide-eyed. "I don’t even know what to say."

The fireplace flared to life as the voice rang out, "Is that Harry?"

Before Harry could even respond, Neville, Luna, Blaise, Pansy, and Theo all came tumbling out of the floo, their faces filled with concern and relief. Harry groaned, rubbing his temple. "Please don’t hit me, I think I have a concussion!" he managed to get out just before they all piled onto him in a massive group hug.

"Oh, thank Merlin!" Neville exclaimed, squeezing Harry tight. Luna, with her usual serene smile, simply patted Harry’s head, while Blaise and Theo exchanged relieved glances before joining in the hug.

Hermione, ever the no-nonsense one, clapped her hands sharply. "Alright, alright! Youve seen the boy wonder alive! Everyone out!" she ordered. "Harry’s fine, we have things to discuss." She waved her hands in a shooing motion toward the fireplace. "Out!"

With a few reluctant glances, everyone nodded and started stepping back into the floo. Neville was the last to leave, giving Harry a parting look of gratitude before disappearing in a swirl of green flames.

Harry let out a long sigh of relief, collapsing onto the couch beside Draco, who had somehow managed to stay composed throughout the entire ordeal. "Tea?" Draco asked casually, as though the last few hours hadn’t been a whirlwind of chaos.

Hermione, rolling her eyes, snapped her fingers and sent the kettle floating over to the stove, where it began heating on its own. Draco leaned back on the couch, watching with a smirk. Wade and Peter, after exchanging glances, took seats near Harry, while Draco made himself comfortable on the opposite side.

"So," Draco started, looking between Hermione and Harry, "why did the fountain drag you two all the way to America?" His voice was light, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

Hermione shrugged, looking a bit exasperated. "I dunno. Obviously, Harry's fate is getting laid, but I’m still figuring out why I’m here." Her tone was half-joking but thoughtful.

Harry groaned, massaging his forehead again. "I didn’t get laid! Would you two stop with that? You’re making me sound like a bloody man-whore. I don't want Peter and Wade to get the wrong idea…”

Draco’s chuckle was low and teasing. "Why would it matter if they think you are one if you’re not interested in them?" He raised a brow, his smirk widening at the sight of Harry’s growing blush.

"That’s none of your concern!" Harry muttered, his embarrassment growing under Draco’s scrutinizing gaze. He then turned to Peter, feeling the need to clarify. "For the record, I’m not a playboy. I didn't even sleep with anyone until I was married! I was a bloody virgin until I was 19! Then after the divorce I realized I was gay and I was going through some shit…”

Peter gave a casual shrug, offering Harry an understanding smile. "Hey, we all have a past. No judgment here."

Wade, never one to miss a chance for humor, threw an arm over Harry’s shoulders. "Yeah I can't talk, I’ve got a long trail of broken hearts behind me," he joked, flashing a grin.

Draco’s eyes narrowed slightly, clearly unamused. Wade caught the look and quickly sputtered, "But not anymore! I mean that's why they're behind me! See…that…that’s old Wade. Bad Deadpool! Bad! No more broken hearts for me! Not in front of me at least!" He chuckled awkwardly, trying to ease the tension.

Draco made an unimpressed noise, but his focus shifted as Hermione floated him a cup of tea. She sniffed at her own cup and wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Honestly, Harry, this tea is barely drinkable," she scoffed.

Harry shrugged, too tired to care. "It’s the best I could find on short notice. You’re welcome to bring your own next time."

Peter, amused by the exchange, shot a web toward the kitchen, snagging a few more pancakes and handing one to Wade. Wade winked and bit into it as Peter shared his own with Harry.

Draco watched the exchange, smirking. "Oh, Potter. Always finding a way to be coddled." But his voice was light, and there was no malice in his teasing.

Hermione finally took a seat, her arms crossed, as she looked over at the group. "Well," she said, "fate or not, we still need to figure out what the hell happened."

Draco shrugged. "Maybe it’s Harry’s habit of always stumbling into things. Or maybe it’s just the universe’s way of reminding him he can’t escape chaos."

Harry sighed, but despite everything, he couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t the normalcy he was used to, but with this strange group around him, it felt like a start to something new. Something, dare he think it, good.

The group settled comfortably into the living room after breakfast, the atmosphere light and easy. Hermione and Draco sipped their tea, while Peter and Wade sprawled out on the couch with Harry, who sat between them, feeling unusually at ease. The conversations were casual, bouncing from one topic to the next.

"So, Peter," Harry started, glancing at him with a crooked smile, "when are you going to show me how to swing from buildings like that? Looks like a bit more fun than flying on a broom."

Peter chuckled, leaning back and giving Harry a playful look. "Oh, I dunno. You think you could handle it, Potter? It’s not as easy as it looks. Not everyone can pull off the whole ‘friendly neighborhood hero’ thing."

Wade, never one to miss an opportunity, grinned and nudged Harry with his elbow. "Yeah, it’s not about swinging from buildings, dude. It’s all about the spandex. Peter just likes the tight fit."

Harry smirked, leaning closer to Wade with a teasing tone. "I like a tight fit too. Maybe I’ll give it a try. Think I’d pull it off?"

Peter raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I dunno, Harry. You might need a little training first. I’ve been doing this a while, after all."

Wade laughed, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, I’d be happy to coach you, Potter. We can start with some stretching exercises. Don’t want you pulling anything during your heroic leaps."

Harry rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the slight blush creeping up his neck. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I’ll be out there swinging circles around both of you soon enough."

Draco, lounging in an armchair nearby, watched the exchange with a smirk. "Oh Merlin, look at you, Potter. Flirting with two superheroes at once now, are we?" His voice was dripping with playful sarcasm. "Impressive. Didn’t know you had it in you."

Harry’s confidence wavered for a second, and the blush that had barely been noticeable a moment ago now spread across his cheeks. "I’m not—" he started, fumbling for words. "Shove it, Malfoy."

Draco’s smirk widened, clearly delighted by Harry’s reaction. "Sure, sure. As eloquent as always. But i must say, i’ve never seen you blush this much over a bit of banter before. You’re practically glowing."

Peter chuckled, joining in the fun. "He’s right, Harry. You were all smooth a minute ago, but now you’re turning red. What’s up with that?"

Harry stammered, trying to regain his composure. "I—It’s not like that! I just—"

Hermione, who had been quietly observing the whole thing, decided to pile on. "Oh, come on, Harry. You’ve never been good at this. Remember fourth year when you tried to ask Cedric to the Yule Ball? You could barely string a sentence together. And now here you are, getting all flustered again."

Harry groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. "I’m not flustered!" he insisted, though his burning cheeks told a different story.

Wade grinned wickedly, leaning closer to Harry. "Oh, you’re definitely flustered, bud. It’s adorable.”

Harry groaned and buried his face in his hands, only making everyone laugh harder.

"Yeah, but to be fair," Draco added, leaning casually against the wall, "Cedric was a lot. Though I’m surprised. I figured you’d have grown out of the blushing-teenager phase by now, Potter." His eyes flicked over to Wade and Peter. "But it looks like you’ve traded in Quidditch captains for superheroes. Can’t say I’m surprised."

Wade, ever the opportunist, caught onto the tone of Draco's voice and grinned widely. "Oh, Draco, if you’re jealous you just need to say so." He waggled his eyebrows, leaning a bit closer to the blond. "I’m available for flirting appointments between the hours of always and right now."

Draco's smirk didn’t falter. In fact, he leaned forward just a little, meeting Wade’s playful gaze with his own cool one. "Flirting appointments, you say? Well, I suppose I could fit you into my very busy schedule."

Harry’s stomach twisted slightly at the back-and-forth, and before he realized what he was doing, he muttered under his breath, "Or, you know, you could skip it."

Draco's sharp ears caught it, and he raised an amused eyebrow, but he didn’t press. He just shot Harry a knowing look, a silent acknowledgment of what was unsaid. He took a graceful step back from Wade, giving Harry the space to breathe. "Another time, then," he said lightly, letting the moment pass without further teasing.

Hermione, however, was far less merciful. She stifled a laugh behind her cup of tea. "Oh Harry, you were always terrible at jealousy too."

Harry turned an even brighter shade of red, stammering, "I’m not jealous!"

Wade chimed in. "You know, Harry, for someone who’s faced down dark wizards and a basilisk, you’re surprisingly bad at handling a little friendly banter."

"Shut up, Wade," Harry muttered, but there was no real heat behind his words. He was too embarrassed to come up with a proper retort.

Peter gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder, clearly enjoying the whole situation. "Hey, no worries, man. Happens to the best of us. Though I gotta say, I didn’t expect you to get flustered. 'Cause you were all smooth operator when it was just us. Now you’re practically turning pink. Did Hermione slap some sense into you?"

Harry shot him a helpless look, trying desperately to deflect. "It's not my fault! It's them!”

Draco snickered. "Oh, don’t blame us, Potter. You’re the one who can’t handle a bit of teasing."

Hermione, still smiling, leaned back in her chair. "You’re just too easy to embarrass, Harry. Always have been."

Harry sputtered, trying to find something clever to say in response, but all he managed was an awkward, "Well, it’s... it’s not like I’m used to—"

"Flirting?" Wade finished for him, his grin widening. "Yeah, we noticed."

Peter chuckled and nudged Harry’s side. "Don’t worry, we won’t hold it against you. It's adorable seeing the Hallow Man blush!”

“Hallow Man? That's the superhero name you chose?” Hermione said, choking on her tea laughing.

“Could have gone with golden boy,” draco jokes.

“I voted for Scar Face,” Wade added.

Harry let out a frustrated groan, burying his face in his hands. "I hate all of you."

Wade and Peter burst into laughter, while Draco and Hermione exchanged amused glances. Harry’s face remained bright red as he tried to will away the embarrassment, but their teasing only seemed to make it worse.

Wade clapped him on the back. "Cheer up, Potter. If it makes you feel better, you’re still the coolest wizard in the room."

Harry peeked out from behind his hands, glaring half-heartedly. "Gee, thanks. Compared to a nerd and an old married guy.”

Peter smiled, giving Harry another playful nudge. "Don’t worry, man. We’re just messing with you."

Harry sighed, finally letting a small smile break through his embarrassment. "Yeah, yeah. I’ll get you both back for this."

"Looking forward to it," Wade said with a wink, causing Harry to blush all over again. Hermione and Draco exchanged amused glances, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

Harry shot them all a helpless look, but before he could dig himself any deeper, Peter leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity. "So, Hermione, Draco... I’ve been wondering about this whole magic thing. How does it all work? Like, the theory behind it. Could someone like me ever learn?"

Hermione’s face lit up instantly, and Draco, sensing the opportunity for intellectual debate, stepped forward eagerly. "Well, it’s not that simple. Magic is deeply tied to one’s magical core, something you either have or don’t."

Hermione nodded, picking up where Draco left off. "It’s also about intent and focus. Spells are like formulas, but they’re influenced by willpower and magical strength. It’s a bit like... well, trying to explain quantum physics to a Muggle."

Peter listened intently, his eyes wide as the two wizards dove into a detailed discussion about magical theory, cores, and wand movements. It wasn’t long before Peter was throwing in questions, getting more and more involved in the conversation.

Meanwhile, Wade turned to Harry and nudged him toward the couch. "Well, while the nerds have their magic chat, how about we play some PlayStation? You know, get back to what we were doing before the British Invasion."

Harry chuckled and took the controller, though he wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing. Wade smirked as they settled into a game, but it didn’t take long for Harry’s lack of gaming skill to become painfully obvious.

"Damn, Harry," Wade teased, easily besting him in the game. "You’re really good at fighting bad guys in real life, but you suck at it on screen."

Harry narrowed his eyes, his competitive streak kicking in. "Alright, alright, you win here. But let’s see how you do in a proper fight."

Wade’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh-ho! You want to spar, Potter? Now that’s more my speed."

They stood up, Wade cracking his knuckles with glee. Harry tossed his wand aside, ready to take Wade on without magic. The others paused their conversation to watch the two size each other up.

"You sure you want to do this?" Harry asked with a grin, getting into a fighting stance.

Wade bounced on the balls of his feet, already grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, I’ve been waiting for this all morning. Let’s see what you got, magic man."

And with that, the sparring session began.

Peter pov

I leaned back against the wall, trying to act casual as I watched Harry and Wade square off in the middle of the room. There was something about Harry when he took off his leather jacket—he was ridiculously hot, and I wasn’t even trying to hide that I’d noticed. His shirt clung to him, his muscles moving in a way that made it hard to look anywhere else. I wasn’t exactly sure when I’d started noticing Harry like this, but now? Yeah, it was pretty obvious.

Draco, standing next to me, leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. “If Potter loses, clap for Wilson. See what happens.”

I blinked, glancing sideways at him. "Why?" I asked, genuinely curious but also a little wary of whatever game Draco was playing.

Draco smirked, that trademark grin of his that always screamed trouble. “Just do it.”

I shrugged. Whatever. It was just clapping, right?

The match started, and it was clear that Wade had the advantage in hand-to-hand combat. Harry gave as good as he got, but Wade’s experience and unpredictable style made it tough for Harry to keep up. Plus his superhuman strength and reflexes made it an uneven match, but Harry obviously had ample training to be keeping up. After a few minutes, Wade had Harry pinned on the floor, grinning like a maniac while Harry struggled beneath him.

“Not bad, Potter,” Wade said, smug as ever. “But I win.”

Without thinking too much about it, I clapped. Just a small, polite clap. But as soon as I did, I noticed Harry wiping his face, looking more determined than before. He didn’t say anything, just got back to his feet and squared off with Wade again.

“Let's go again,” he muttered, shaking out his arms.

This time, the fight was closer. Harry was faster, more precise, and he almost had Wade pinned a few times, but in the end, Wade slammed him down once again, pinning Harry’s arms behind his back with a grin.

I clapped again, this time a little more hesitantly, feeling the frustration coming off Harry in waves. He groaned, his expression tight with irritation.

“There’s no shame in losing, Potter,” Draco called out, obviously enjoying the show. “Best to know when you’re beat.”

Harry glared at Draco for a second, then turned back to Wade. “Let’s take the damn training wheels off,” he said, his voice low. “We can’t die anyway.”

Wade’s grin only widened. “You’re on, Potter.”

Hermione flicked her wand, and the room expanded, the furniture sliding out of the way as the space grew. Draco cast a shimmering shield around us, ensuring we wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire. Harry drew his wand, eyes locked on Wade, who had already unsheathed his katanas and holstered his guns. The air between them crackled with anticipation.

This time, it wasn’t just a spar. It was all-out war. Spells flew, bullets whizzed through the air, and Wade’s blades clashed against the force of Harry’s magic. The tension was high, and I could barely keep up with their movements.

Then Wade managed to get a shot off, hitting Harry in the arm. I gasped, instinctively moving forward to help, but Draco’s hand shot out, gripping my arm tightly.

“Leave him,” Draco said, his voice calm. “He’s fine. You made him propper jealous though, he's going to go all out to prove himself to you now.”

And he was. Harry didn’t even flinch. He muttered a quick healing spell, stopping the bleeding before retaliating with a flick of his wand. The bullets that had missed Wade earlier rose from the ground and flew back toward him, hitting Wade in the abdomen. Wade, of course, just laughed it off. His healing factor kicked in almost immediately, and he kept coming at Harry like nothing had happened.

The fight continued, both of them landing blows. Harry got cut a few times, nothing too deep, but every time I winced, Draco gave me a look, reminding me to stay back. Then Harry cast Sectumsempra, and Wade hit the ground hard, blood splattering around him.

I stepped forward, quickly calling out, “Alright, it’s a draw! You both did great!”

Harry wasn’t having it, though. “that’s not fair,” he complained, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Wade got to win twice.”

Wade, still lying on the floor, grinned up at us. “Yeah, let’s keep going until one of us is out cold! We’ll wake up shortly after anyway.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could, Draco grabbed me and pulled me out of the forcefield, ensuring I wouldn’t get caught in the middle of their next round. The fight continued, more intense than before. Spells, bullets, and blades filled the air, and I found myself holding my breath more than once.

Finally, Harry managed to get the upper hand. He hit Wade with a fire curse, and Wade dropped, dead this time. Harry, breathing hard and looking incredibly satisfied, turned to face us.

Draco leaned in again, his voice a teasing whisper. “If you don’t want Potter to kill Wilson again, I’d clap and make a bigger deal of it than when Wade won. I mean since you're practically drooling anyway…”

I shook my head quickly. “I’m not—”

But before I could finish, Harry looked right at me, his green eyes practically glowing with adrenaline. Without even thinking about it, I started clapping. Loudly. Way more enthusiastically than I had before.

Harry’s face lit up with the brightest smile I’d ever seen, and for a moment, I couldn’t help but smile back, my cheeks warming.

"You know, Potter," Draco drawled, feigning a yawn, his silver eyes glinting mischievously. "I think you're getting slow. That last duel of yours was... what's the word? Pathetic."

Harry shot him a sharp look from across the room, clearly unamused but trying not to bite just yet. "I’m not getting slow! I won dammit!” he said, voice flat but defensive, which of course only egged Draco on.

"Oh, please," Draco continued, sitting up slightly, his smirk growing. "You used to be faster. Smarter, even. Nowadays, it’s like you’ve lost your edge. Maybe it’s the whole being a hero thing that’s catching up to you, huh? Getting soft, Potter?"

Hermione, who had been flipping through a book, didn’t even bother looking up before joining in. "Draco’s right, you know," she said, her tone light but playful. "I’ve noticed it too. You’re not as sharp as you used to be."

Harry bristled at that. "I’m still sharp!" he snapped, his eyes flicking between them. He glanced briefly in my direction, and I tried to look neutral, even though I could tell what was happening here. Harry was trying to hold it together, but there was something more going on. Maybe it was the way his gaze kept flicking toward me—like he wanted to prove something, like he needed to impress me, for some reason. I was sure Draco was full of it, but maybe he was right.

Hermione glanced up from her book and raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Because last time we sparred, I had you disarmed in ten seconds. Maybe you are losing your edge, Harry. That’s okay, though. It happens to the best of us."

Draco laughed, clearly enjoying this more than he should. "Disarmed in ten seconds? Now that’s just embarrassing, Potter. You might want to retire before you hurt yourself."

“My wand is loyal to us both! Of course she could disarm me!” Harry retorted with a huff.

“Excuses Potter, that's all you have, tell the truth. The whole defeated the dark lord thing was luck. Bet you played up the story for Peter and Wade here,” Draco said motioning to me.

Harry’s jaw clenched, and I could see the frustration building. He was trying so hard not to react, but it was there.

“I'm a better fighter on my worst day than you on your best,” Harry scoffed.

“Really? Because dating a mortal didn't work out so great with the last boy, what was his name…Ryan?” Draco Asked and Harry's expression grew dark.

“Don't go there,” Harry warned.

“You can barely hold your own against one human, do you even deserve to date mortals again?” Draco challenged and Hermione stepped between them.

“Boys…” She warned.

“No, I think Harry's got something to prove,’ Draco argued.

“You think I’m losing my edge, Malfoy?" Harry spit, his voice low, with just the slightest hint of a challenge. He crossed his arms, the muscles in his forearms tensing, clearly trying to keep calm. "Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?"

Draco grinned, sensing Harry taking the bait. "Oh, you want to go, Potter? Fine by me. I need the practice. I’ll have to show my son how it’s done someday, after all."

Harry’s lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes were practically on fire. "You’re going to practice getting your ass kicked by a child."

Draco laughed again, standing up and cracking his neck like this was just another leisurely activity for him. "You talk big, Potter, but let’s see if you can back it up. I’m sure Peter and Wade here would love to watch you lose and die.”

Harry stiffened at that, and I realized just how much Draco had been pushing the right buttons all along. It wasn’t about the teasing, not really. It was about something else. Something about dying in front of us.

Hermione finally walked over to where the two were squaring up. "Honestly, you’re both wrong," she said, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "You’re both going to get shown a thing or two, and neither of you will see it coming."

Wade, who gotten up some time ago and walked to stand beside me, remarked, "Oh, I’m definitely not missing this," he muttered, stretching.

Hermione shot Wade a glare. "No interference from you, Wade. This is going to be a fair fight." She turned to me then, raising an eyebrow. "And no interference from you, Peter. Got it?"

I raised my hands in surrender, trying to keep things light. "I’m just here to watch."

"Good," she said, turning back to the guys. "Alright, boys. You know the rules—no interference, no death blows directed at Malfoy, me or Harry die and we lose, purple sparks mark submission and reset, unconscious longer than 3 seconds you're out, no time outs, and you win by submission, forfeit, or being the last one standing."

Harry shot one last look my way meeting my eyes then Wades, his face tense but determined. He wanted this—wanted to prove something. I couldn’t help the nervous flutter in my stomach as I watched him. I wasn’t sure what I wanted out of this, but the energy in the room was palpable, and there was no turning back now.

The three of them squared off in the middle of the room, wands at the ready. Harry’s eyes flickered between Draco and Hermione, and I could see his mind working, planning, strategizing. Draco, on the other hand, looked like he was already enjoying himself, and Hermione—well, she always looked calm, but you knew there was a storm brewing beneath the surface.

Draco gave Harry one last smirk. "Scared, Potter?"

Harry’s grip tightened on his wand. "You wish."

With that, they bowed, ready for the fight of their lives. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that something else beyond a duel was happening.

They walked back to their respective corners, and just before the duel began, Harry couldn’t help himself. "Ladies first, you two."

Hermione rolled her eyes but grinned, ready to fight. "You asked for it," she muttered.

The duel kicked off in an instant. Spells flew faster than I could track, the whole room buzzing with the hum of magic. I tried to keep my focus, but damn, Harry was good. Even though he was up against both Hermione and Draco, he held his own, dodging curses, blocking them with shields, and returning fire with an intensity I don't think I'd seen before. They didn’t just cast spells—they moved like they were playing chess, each step calculated, each hit taken with purpose.

The banter continued between spells, their competitive spirits flaring. Harry cast a Stupefy that Hermione barely deflected. "Still dodging, Granger? Thought you were smarter than that," he teased, and Hermione grinned.

"I don’t need to dodge, Potter. I just like watching you sweat,” she retorted.

I watched, tense, as Draco took every opportunity to throw jabs. "Come on, Potter! Don’t want your boyfriends to see you lose now, do you?" he taunted, a smirk playing on his lips.

I caught the shift in Harry’s eyes at the mention of Wade and me. For just a split second, his focus wavered, he glanced back at us meeting my eye. It was enough for Draco to capitalize on. Without hesitation, Draco sent a cutting curse flying straight at Harry. The spell hit with a sickening thud against Harry’s shoulder. His wand slipped from his hand as his arm hung limply, nearly severed by the force of the attack.

I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped me. My instinct was to rush forward, but Wade’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist firmly, stopping me in my tracks. I felt the tension in his grip—he wanted to go to Harry too, but he knew better than to get involved in this madness.

“I don’t want you hit with a spell babyboy,” Wade muttered through clenched teeth, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the scene.

I nodded, glancing back at Harry, his face twisted in pain. "He's hurt, I wanna help!”

Wade’s jaw tightened, but he kept his gaze locked on the fight. "Harry’s good, but he’s letting his emotions get the best of him. That moment of distraction—" he nodded toward Harry, who was still reeling from the curse—"that was dumb. You getting yourself hurt will distract him more.”

"Yeah, but Draco’s not holding back," I muttered, my eyes flicking to Hermione, who was already making a move toward Harry. She grabbed his wand, trying to seize control of the fight, but Harry wasn’t about to let her. With a brutal elbow, he hit her in the nose, breaking it with a sickening crack. He followed up by dislocating her arm with a swift twist, causing her to drop the wand.

I winced at the sight. "Damn…"

Wade watched, his brow furrowing. "Hermione’s gonna be pissed after this. But Harry’s not giving an inch. She didn’t expect that."

"None of them did," I said, my voice low. "But Harry’s not exactly in a good place right now."

Just then, Harry screamed in pain as a curse continued to take its toll on him, blood pouring from his eyes. I moved to help, shaking Wade off this time. He staggered, but even in the middle of the chaos, he managed to grab his wand with his left hand. He cast a shimmering barrier between us, one we couldn’t cross.

"No interference, or I automatically forfeit," Harry’s strained voice carried across the room.

I shot Wade a worried glance, and he gave a sharp nod. "We stay out of this," he muttered. "We don’t want to make it worse."

The fight continued with no mercy. Draco and Hermione pressed their attack, but I could see Hermione's eyes flickering to Harry’s wound every now and then. She was still relentless, though.

Harry gritted his teeth, his face a mask of determination despite the blood and agony. In a desperate move, he cast the Imperius Curse on Draco. I watched as Draco’s body stiffened, and for a moment, he just stood there, frozen. But then, under Harry’s control, Draco turned to Hermione and attacked.

Hermione’s expression shifted—shock, annoyance, but also a flicker of determination. She didn’t hold back, attacking Draco with everything she had, even as Harry controlled him.

I turned to Wade, feeling the tension rise. "This is getting out of hand."

Wade didn’t respond right away. His eyes were fixed on the fight. "Harry’s trying to buy himself time to heal up. That’s why he hit Draco with the curse. He knows it’s his only shot to regain control."

I nodded, knowing Wade was right. Harry wasn’t out yet. He healed himself up a bit. Hermione shot Draco with a curse and he screamed and with a sudden burst of strength, Draco broke free of both curses. His eyes flashing with anger. He retaliated with a spell that sent Harry flying back, crashing into the floor with a bone-shattering force.

The sickening sound of broken bones echoed in the air. I winced at the sound. "That’s gonna leave a mark," I muttered.

"Yeah, no kidding," Wade replied, his voice tense. "But Harry’s still up. He’s not done."

He retaliated with a curse that reverberated through Draco's whole left side shattering bones so loud I winced and Draco yelled a blood curdling scream. Draco, clearly in pain but trying to save face, sent purple sparks into the air. "Alright, alright, I’m out!" he muttered, clearly defeated.

I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. "Thank Merlin."

Wade gave a slight smirk, though his eyes didn’t leave Harry. "That was insane. But Harry… he’s something else."

I looked back at Harry, watching him slowly pick himself up, blood dripping from his body. "Yeah. He is. And I don’t think this is over yet."

Now it was just Harry and Hermione. The room felt smaller somehow, the intensity between them growing with each passing second. Hermione wiped a bit of dust off her sleeve, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Ready for this?" she asked, her voice light, but I knew she wasn’t going easy on him.

Harry, despite his injury, grinned back at her. "You have no idea."

They squared off again, both of them battered but clearly not backing down anytime soon. I felt myself tense up as they exchanged a flurry of spells, their movements fluid and practiced, like this was what they were born to do.

The duel between Harry and Hermione was more intense without Draco, each spell exchanged with more force than the last. Harry’s determination was palpable, his eyes locked on Hermione, his body tense and ready. He wanted to win—he needed to win. Not just for himself, but for something else he wasn’t saying. Something that made him push past his limits, even if it hurt.

Hermione wasn’t holding back either. She was moving with purpose, her spells sharp and precise, but her focus was also on Harry. She wasn’t just fighting him; she was testing him. There was no hesitation in her strikes, no mercy. It was like she was trying to show him something, like she was waiting for him to show that he still had it. But Harry wasn’t going to make it easy.

Their spells collided with explosions of light, each one threatening to leave a mark, and occasionally, they did. Harry’s shirt was torn from a slicing charm, a deep gash bleeding on his side. But he barely flinched, only gritting his teeth as he ducked under another curse. He flicked his wand and cast a healing charm, his breath coming in short bursts. Hermione’s curse had been close, too close, but Harry wasn’t going to stop.

Hermione, on the other hand, wasn’t much better off. Her cheek was bleeding, a thin line of red from a stray hex Harry had gotten in just before she blocked his attack and her left knee was twisted in the wrong direction. She wasn’t slowing down either. She fired a barrage of curses, one after the other, each more dangerous than the last. A strong blast knocked Harry back, and for a moment, he was down on the floor. But he pushed himself up quickly, his eyes blazing with intensity. He wasn’t letting this end.

Wade and I stood off to the side, silently watching the spectacle unfold before us. I couldn’t help but look at Harry’s every move, trying to make sense of what was happening. His eyes kept darting over to me and Wade, his face flickering with determination and a touch of something else I couldn’t quite place. Something that made him push himself further.

Draco, who had been observing quietly, couldn’t resist chiming in. "Look at Potter. He’s trying so hard to impress you both. To prove he deserves you," he said with a grin, eyes flicking between me and Wade.

Wade just raised an eyebrow. "You think so?" he muttered quietly, looking over at me.

I shrugged, not entirely convinced. "Nah, he's just trying to prove he can beat her."

Draco’s smirk widened. "Oh, trust me, he's definitely trying. He wants to show you that he’s still got it. He is fighting this hard because you’re watching."

But I didn’t believe that. At least, not entirely. Sure, Harry wanted to win. But something told me it wasn’t just about impressing us—it was about something deeper.

"You think he can keep this up?" Wade asked, his voice low.

I didn’t answer right away. I wasn’t sure. Watching Harry and Hermione now, I could see how evenly matched they were. Both of them bleeding, both of them refusing to back down. They weren’t holding anything back.

Hermione’s voice rang out in a mocking tone, "Is that all you’ve got, Harry? Come on, I thought you were better than that. They probably did too!”

That did it. Harry’s eyes flashed, his entire body tensing with fury. He shot 4 spells in quick succession, Hermione going on the defensive had to dive and duck to avoid them. Then Harry raised his wand high, his lips moving in a low, intense whisper.

"Fyendfire!"

The air around them rippled, and suddenly, a massive serpent of fire erupted from Harry’s wand, roaring forward like a living creature. The fiery serpent surged toward Hermione with unstoppable force. She barely had time to react, raising her shield just in time to block some of it, but the sheer power of the flames overwhelmed her. The fire wrapped around her, the blaze swallowing her whole in a violent explosion of heat and light.

When the fire cleared, Hermione lay motionless on the floor, her body sprawled. But the fire serpent wasn't done, it writhed and grew and harry fought to contain it.

“Potter,” Draco said warningly.

The serpent of fire reared back at the forcefield protecting me and Wade and Draco
Draco pushed us behind him and drew his wand but then Harry hissed to it like a snake. The beast reared back and faced Harry again and Harry and the beast hissed back and forth like they were talking. Draco groaned a bit, not surprised almost more…turned on.

The beast suddenly surged toward Harry and Harry didn't even flinch just faced it head on like the wildest game of chicken. I wanted to scream but I could only watch, then it seemed to get swallowed up by Harry like he absorbed it.

Harry’s chest heaved with exhaustion, his face twisted in pain, blood dripping from cuts across his arms and face. He fell to his knees, his body wracked with the toll of the fight.

It was over.

I felt my heart drop. But Harry didn’t care about the pain. He threw his fist up like a boxer after a fight, sweaty, bloody, and victorious. And God damned was he sexy. He wiped his bloody hand across his forehead, taking a deep breath.

Draco sauntered over and slapped him in the back of the head. Wss it a term of endearment among them to hit each other?

“That was incredibly fucking foolish!” Draco admonished. “And remarkably impressive. Bravo,” he said bowing.

Wade and I exchanged a glance, and then we both started clapping. It was slow at first, unsure if we even should clap but then it built. Harry had done it. Despite the pain, despite everything, he’d won. He had fought like a man possessed.

Harry looked up, his face flushed from both the fight and the attention, and when he saw us clapping, his expression softened. He smiled, the tiredness in his eyes quickly replaced with a look of pride. His face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"Thanks," Harry muttered, his voice hoarse.

Draco finished healing him and stepped back with a smirk. "You’re lucky I’m here to fix you up, Potter. You always push yourself too far." he said, kneeling next to him. With a flick of his wand, Draco started to heal Harry, mending the worst of the wounds.

Harry snorted, his usual confidence creeping back despite the exhaustion. "I know," he replied, “but you gotta admit that was bad ass.”

“I give credit where it is due,” Draco remarked nonchalantly but his cheeks blushed.

“Come on Dray, you think I don't know what speaking parseltongue does to you?” Harry teased. He hissed a bit more like a snake and Draco shivered and smacked him on the arm.

“Not in front of people you absolute fucking flirt!” He admonished. “I'm a private man.”

Harry scoffed, “not after 24 apple martinis on new years eve.”

“That was one time and don't you dare bring it up again!” Draco shouted and harry chuckled and stood, full of confidence, pride, and that bold sureness he had before his friends had shown up. He looked up at me and Wade and smiled this charming smile and winked.

I couldn’t help but blush and smile back. Maybe I hadn’t realized it until now, but Harry really was something special. And seeing him like this, triumphant and yet still so human, made something stir inside me.

Wade let out a low whistle. "I’m not gonna lie, that was impressive, Potter. I didn’t think you had it in you."

Harry looked over at him, his smile still bright, though now tinged with exhaustion.

Hermione suddenly gasped, coughing as she rose to her feet mostly fully healed. Her eyes flashed with annoyance, but there was a hint of maternal frustration in them as she spoke.

"Fyendfire?!" she yelled, hands on her hips. "Really, Harry?!"

Harry chuckled, clearly amused. "Don't hate because you can't control the spell enough to cast it," he teased.

Hermione scoffed, shaking her head. "No one can control the damn thing! Because no one’s crazy enough to use it! And the few who do usually end up dead by its hand!"

Draco leaned over to Wade and me, whispering just loud enough for us to hear. "It’s a spell that essentially creates a sentient being of fire, one that takes the shape of your spirit animal. But because it’s made of fire, it’s as wild and unpredictable as a wildfire. To control it, your will has to be stronger than the literal will of a Forest fire. And its will is all consuming. You must be resolute, unmoving, and unafraid. If you falter for even a moment, you lose control, and it will devour you—and everything in its path. It can eat through force fields and demolish entire cities if you let it. It’s unimaginably dangerous, and Harry’s the only wizard I’ve ever known who can cast it and dismiss it at will, let alone control it."

Harry shrugged, grinning despite his exhaustion. "Yeah, usually I have more control, but today it fought me. It hasn’t done that in years."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Because your mind must be totally clear when you cast it, and this time it was focused on Peter’s ass and Wade’s cock, most likely."

Harry shot her a glare. "You’re just mad because you lost."

Hermione’s lips twitched. "I’ll admit it... it was a good fight, and I lost fairly. But next time, I’ll kick your ass."

Draco shifted uncomfortably and adjusted his pants, and Wade shot him an amused look. "Dude, are you hard?" he asked, unable to hide his smirk.

Draco sputtered, his face turning red. "No!"

Harry smirked. "Yeah, I can speak Parseltongue. It’s the language snakes speak, and since my spirit animal is a snake, I can talk to it. That’s how I got it to turn away from you guys. I challenged it, and the strongest will wins. And I won. But Parseltongue always makes Draco horny."

Harry hissed again, something in this snake language that seemed to make Draco shiver.

"Stop that!" Draco said, his voice tight. "I told you, not in front of people!"

Harry chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. Hermione smacked Harry on the back of the head.

"What was that for?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What if your will wavered and it killed you? Then it would’ve attacked Draco and your two boy toys! Draco wouldn’t have been able to fight it off like you can! Who knows what could’ve happened?" Hermione scolded.

Harry shook his head, smirking. "They wouldn’t have died. I put a contingency in place. That second shield I cast…It automatically apparates anyone behind it down the street if it’s breached by magic."

Hermione blinked, clearly impressed. "Oh. Well, that was very smart, Harry."

Harry grinned. "Thanks. I’m not dumb, you know."

He flicked his wand to fix his clothes, smoothing down his jacket. As he moved, I noticed the tattoos peeking from his collarbone. Curiosity piqued, I asked, "Can I see them?"

Harry’s smirk widened. "Sure," he said casually, pulling his shirt completely off. The snakes on his collarbone rippled and twisted as he moved, framing a strange symbol. I raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Draco, seeing my confusion, stepped closer to explain. "It’s the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. The power that makes him immortal."

I blinked, taking in the meaning behind the symbol. Wade, unable to resist, let out a low wolf whistle. Harry smiled but didn’t seem fazed by the attention.

I hesitated, then pointed to the tattoo on Harry's forearm. "What does this one say?"

Harry grinned and leaned closer, his tattooed forearm now fully visible. The quote from Peter Pan read: “To die would be an awfully big adventure.”

I stared at the words, feeling a shiver run through me. It was a reminder of the depth of Harry's power and the strange, almost otherworldly connection between him and death.

Draco walked up to Harry, his expression softer than before. "You know I didn’t mean it, right?" he said quietly. "After all that happened, you said you didn’t deserve to ever try again. And… you’re holding back now," he added, glancing at Wade and me discreetly. "I dunno if that’s why, but I wanted you to prove it to yourself that you do deserve it. That was a freak situation… and it wasn’t your fault."

Harry nodded, his shoulders sagging as if a weight had been lifted. "I know it wasn’t."

Draco’s face softened even more. "We good?"

Without a second thought, Harry pulled Draco into a hug. "Always. I love you, man."

Draco patted his back awkwardly. "Alright, alright," he muttered, clearly trying to play it cool.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the scene. "Oh, boys, you’re so dramatic. Draco, will you grab some healing potions? Then Harry’s buying us lunch."

Harry laughed, wiping some blood from his brow. "Of course, dear, anything you want."

"Good," Hermione replied, raising an eyebrow at Harry. "You owe me, and I want Italian. Somewhere with good wine."

Draco nodded. "Alright, be right back." He strode toward the fireplace and, with a whoosh, disappeared into the flames.

Harry hesitated for a moment, then said, "I’m gonna help him," grabbing a crumpled piece of parchment from the table—the same one he’d been writing on when Wade and I came out for breakfast. He followed Draco through the fireplace, vanishing in the same burst of fire.

Hermione turned toward us, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Hello, boys."

Wade crossed his arms, feigning offense. "You know I’m a grown man, right?"

She waved him off. "Semantics." Then her gaze sharpened. "So, what are your intentions with my fake husband?"

Wade raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "We’re his friends."

Hermione sighed, shaking her head. "Ah, as thick as he is and twice as oblivious. Alright, well, do you know any good Italian places? Something expensive and good."

I shrugged. "I only do cheap and greasy."

Wade rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Luigi Bistro on 5th is really nice, but we don’t exactly fit in there."

Hermione scoffed, eyes gleaming. "Money fits in everywhere."

Before I could reply, the fireplace roared back to life. Harry and Draco stepped through, Draco mid-conversation. "I told you, Potter, I’ll handle the acquisition, but paying four times the market value for some vermin infested building no doubt in squalor just so your boy—"

Harry cut him off with a finger to his lips. "Shhhh. Shut up, or I’ll tell Astoria about what we did in Panama last summer."

Draco paled instantly, his voice dropping. "Fine, consider it done. Lunch?"

Hermione rolled her eyes again, stepping forward. "Yes, Wade knows a place! I’ll call a car, and we’ll stop at the bank after."

Harry smirked. "Good, Draco and I need to sign some stuff."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, but Harry didn’t elaborate. I exchanged a glance with Wade, who just shrugged. This was bound to be an interesting lunch.

A sleek black car pulled up, and we piled in, heading to Luigi Bistro. As we cruised through the city, I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. I was in jeans and a T-shirt with a quadratic equation on it, looking like a teenage math nerd. Wade was in jeans and a bright red Spiderman T-shirt. We definitely didn't scream "classy dining."

But then there was Harry, relaxed as ever in a T-shirt, jeans, and a leather jacket. He looked like he owned the place, despite his casual getup, which honestly made me feel a bit better. If he wasn’t worried, why should I be?

Draco, on the other hand, was dressed like he was headed to some upper-crust event, rocking a turtleneck and slacks like a 40-year-old businessman. And Hermione was the epitome of summer elegance in her sundress, looking more like she belonged at a brunch than lunch with us.

As we arrived at the bistro, we definitely looked like an odd bunch—a mishmash of styles and ages that had the valet giving us a second look. But Harry didn’t seem to notice, walking straight up to the maître d’ like he owned the joint. The guy looked Harry up and down, clearly unimpressed.

"Is this your dining attire, sir?" he said, the disdain dripping off his voice. I could already see the judgment in his eyes.

Harry didn’t miss a beat, pulling a thick stack of hundreds from his jacket pocket and handing it over. "Yeah, yeah, I don't want any guff about it either. Look, we need a table—private and secluded. I don’t care if I have to rent the whole place to get it."

The maître d's eyes widened, and Harry continued. "I’ll need a red wine—private label, fruity, earthy, with good body and legs. Nothing younger than 30 years. And an aged bourbon. I like smoke and cedar, nothing younger than 50. Leave the bottles. Clean tablecloth, or I’ll make you redress the table. No wrinkles, please, or Draco will whine incessantly."

Draco gave a smug little smirk at that, but it was clear he expected nothing less.

The maître d raised an eyebrow, clearly itching to ask something. He glanced back at Harry, looking dubious. "Are you even old enough to drink, sir?"

Without batting an eye, Harry handed him another stack of hundreds. "Do I need to be?"

There was a moment of hesitation before the maître d’ smiled thinly, pocketing the cash with a quick flick of his wrist. "No, sir. My apologies. One moment, please." And just like that, the guy practically bolted off to prepare the table, as if his life depended on it.

Wade leaned in toward me and whispered, "You know, if I had stacks of cash like that, I’d just buy the place and have them serve tacos."

I chuckled. "I’d just take a pizza and some soda at this point."

Wade grinned. "Nah, man. You gotta dream big—think all-you-can-eat chimichangas."

We shared a laugh, and I felt more relaxed. Even though we didn’t look the part, with Harry around, it didn’t seem to matter. He had this way of making the world bend to his will.

Draco gave Harry a sly look and said, “If that didn’t work, Harry would just mind control them or Obliviate the guy.”

Harry groaned, “Hey, that was one time! I didn’t own a suit, they had a dress code, and Hermione wanted to eat there. Who doesn’t accept a $1,000 bribe?! The guy got what he deserved.”

Hermione smiled, a little too pleased with herself. “And I got my apple tart from that 3-Michelin-star chef I’d read about.”

Harry looked at her fondly, “Yes, anything for you, dear.”

She beamed at him like he’d hung the moon, and Draco made a gagging sound. “Ugh, you two make me sick.”

Wade slung an arm over Draco’s shoulder, grinning mischievously. “Hey, Draco, what would a $1,000 bribe get me?”

Draco smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Wanna find out?”

Before Wade could respond, Harry shot a glare in their direction. “He most certainly does not.”

Draco just smirked wider, clearly enjoying Harry’s reaction. “Oh, I think he does. What about it, Wilson?”

Wade grinned back, playing along. “I dunno, Harry, this guy’s pretty handsome.”

Harry’s glare darkened, his voice low and dangerous. “Yeah, he’s got a pretty face. You wanna keep it that way?”

Wade laughed, backing off slightly but clearly enjoying the banter. “Relax, I still prefer you princess.”

At that moment, the maître d’ returned, looking far more polite than before. “Your table is ready, sir.”

He led us through the restaurant, which was now completely empty. We approached a secluded table, draped in a pristine, wrinkle-free tablecloth. Chilled bottles of wine and bourbon were already set on the table, with spotless glasses waiting to be filled.

Harry gave a satisfied nod, “Much better.”

Wade looked around and leaned over to me. “We’ve got the whole place to ourselves. Think they’d kick us out if we started a food fight?”

I shook my head, grinning. “With Harry’s wallet, we could probably turn the bistro into a boxing ring if we wanted.”

Wade chuckled. “Now that’s an idea.”

Draco was already eyeing the wine with approval, and Hermione raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the VIP treatment. As we all settled into our seats, I couldn’t help but feel a little like we were kings of the world—even if we looked like the oddest bunch ever.

Harry poured a bit of wine into Hermione’s glass, swirling it before handing it to her. “Is this alright, dear?”

She took a sip, her lips pursing thoughtfully. “It’s suitable. But you know, I still prefer that one red from that cute little vineyard in Paris we visited last spring.”

Harry chuckled, his eyes warm. “That’s why I bought it for you, dear.”

“I know,” she said, her face lighting up at the memory. “It was divine! This will do, though. But if we end up staying in New York, you’ll just have to buy this place so we can stock my favorite wine.”

Harry laughed, nodding as he poured her a full glass. “Yes, dear,” he said with a mock-serious tone, as though it was already on his to-do list. Afterward, he poured bourbon for me, himself, Draco, and Wade.

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them. “You two really do act married,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

Harry laughed, leaning back in his chair. “Yeah, it started as a joke years ago. Now it’s kind of just… us.” He glanced at Hermione, his expression softening. “She is the love of my life, just platonically, of course.” He brought her hand up and kissed the back of it with a playful flourish.

Hermione smiled at Harry, rolling her eyes but clearly enjoying the affection. He turned back to her, his grin widening. "So," he said, his voice taking on a teasing tone. "Tell me about this handsome man who pulled you from a fountain and put his mouth all over you?"

I felt my face heat up instantly. “What? Oh, come on, it wasn’t like that!” she protested. “He rescued me, is all…”

“Mhmmm, and what is this young suitor’s name? I'll need to ask about his intentions with my fake wife,” Harry teased, his eyes glinting with humor.

“Steve,” she said, her expression going dreamy. “He’s tall and strong and so handsome, Harry. He’s got these beautiful blue eyes like sapphires, and blonde hair. Not platinum like Draco’s, but a cooler shade of blonde—like storm clouds when I read on the porch during a thunderstorm. And he even apologized for giving me mouth-to-mouth. He was such a gentleman.”

“Hermione Jean Granger,” Draco said, raising an eyebrow. “I do believe you are swooning.”

Wade leaned forward, eyes wide. “Wait, wait, wait. Did you say ‘Steve’? Blonde, buff, beautiful Steve? Please tell me you’re talking about Steve Rogers.” His face lit up with excitement.

Hermione’s eyes lit up as she mentioned the name. “Yes, he said his name was Steve Grant Rogers. Do you know him?” she asked, her tone curious but casual.

Wade’s reaction was anything but casual. He nearly spit out his bourbon, eyes going wide with disbelief. “Wait, wait, wait...seriously?! Steve Grant Rogers? Tall, handsome, eyes that could make a grown man cry? Jaw that could cut glass?! Hermione, are you telling me you flirted with THE Captain America?!”

I nodded to Hermione, “Yeah, Hermione. Steve Rogers. He’s literally a living legend.”

Harry looked between the two of us, frowning in confusion. “Wait, Captain America? As in that guy you’ve mentioned a few times? The one with the shield?”

Draco chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “You two are so dramatic. Who is this Steve Rogers, and why are you both acting like schoolgirls over him?”

Wade threw his hands in the air, clearly struggling to contain his excitement. “Oh my god! Hermione, Draco, you two seriously have no idea who Captain America is!? He’s only the greatest American superhero of all time! I mean, come on! The guy was frozen in ice for seventy years, came back, and still kicks ass!”

Hermione blinked, clearly taken aback. “Frozen in ice? Seventy years? Wade, are you sure you’re not making this up?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her skepticism. “No, he’s real. Trust me. Steve’s been around since World War II. He’s the definition of a hero and a gentleman. He was a soldier and they turned him into a super soldier with some genetic experiment thing. The guy even led the Avengers, saved the world a few times, and—oh yeah—he's ridiculously polite while doing it.”

Draco rolled his eyes. “So, what you’re saying is, he’s some kind of American hero... and you’re both smitten?”

Wade leaned over dramatically, lowering his voice. “Smitten? Oh, no. It’s much worse than that. I’d marry the guy if I could. Have you seen his jawline? Like I said, it could cut glass.”

Harry looked a bit grumpy at that, “im sure the guy isn’t that great! And it's not that hard to he a war hero! I did it at 17! And saved the world! Big deal…”

Hermione smiled and nodded, her voice softening. “Yes, you did, Harry. You're wonderful…but Steve was so...gallant. Like something out of a romance novel. He even apologized for having to resuscitate me.”

Wade let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. “Of course he did. He’s the ultimate gentleman! This just isn’t fair, he put his mouth on you?! Why couldn't I drown in that pond?!”

Harry grumbled, “sure like it was first come first serve.”

Draco chuckled and Harry continued, “t's a bit strange some bloke happens to see you drown in a fountain at night and just puts his mouth all over a stranger…that's how you get Aids Hermione!”

Draco, still unimpressed, shrugged. “Sounds like an overhyped American to me. Honestly, what’s all the fuss about?”

I leaned forward, smirking. “You know, Draco, if you met him, you’d get it. Steve’s the kind of guy that makes you feel like you should’ve been a better person your whole life just by shaking his hand. And no offense, but I think he’d be disappointed in us all. He's dreamy.”

Harry shook his head, “a bit creepy if you ask me.”

Wade gave him a pointed look. “Don't be jealous Harry, you're great. Trust me, meeting Cap is life-changing. Hermione here just leveled up.”

Hermione giggled, clearly enjoying the attention but still confused by how big of a deal this was. “I had no idea. I thought he was just... you know, a really nice guy.”

I leaned back in my chair, grinning. “Yeah, that’s Steve for you. Humble, even when he’s literally one of the most famous people in the world.”

Draco scoffed. “Honestly, the way you two are going on about him, you’d think he was royalty.”

Harry shook his head and pouted a bit, “No, Draco. In America, apparently he's better than royalty. He's some symbol of heroism and apparently, Wade’s dream husband.”

Wade dramatically placed a hand over his heart. “I will not apologize for having impeccable taste.”

Hermione, now fully amused, laughed. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to get used to the idea that I was saved by a living legend.”

Harry elbowed her and gave a pointed look. “Oh, come on, Hermione! I have been a living legend since I was a baby and I've saved your life hundreds of times. Surely the thrill has worn off.”

She smiled and patted his hand. “Of course, Harry. You’re my favorite fake husband. Steve Rogers is just... a bonus.”

Draco rolled his eyes. “I’m surrounded by madness. If this Captain America is as impressive as you say, I’ll have to see it for myself.”

Wade grinned, raising his glass. “You won’t be disappointed, Malfoy. Trust me, Cap's the real deal.”

“I'd like to give the bloke a piece of my mind, seducing what's mine,” Harry grumbled.

“You talking about me or Wade and Peter?” Hermione teased.

Harry sputtered, “i…i…well I'm…I'm talking about you of course, aren't i?!”

“Are you?” Draco teased and Harry rolled his eyes.

“What's everybody ordering? Enough of this Captain America nonsense!” Harry said with a huff.

Hermione giggled at Harry’s frustration, clearly amused by his reaction. "Oh, come on, Harry," she teased. "You can't possibly be jealous of Captain America, can you?"

Harry crossed his arms, still pouting slightly. "Jealous? Of course not. I just don't trust some random bloke coming in and playing hero." He paused, glancing at Wade and then back to Hermione. "Besides, why does he get all this attention for saving people? I've been doing that since before I could walk!"

Wade, still grinning, gave Harry a playful nudge. "Don't worry, Harry. You've got your own fan club. Peter and I? We’ve got a little thing for you, remember?"

Harry flushed slightly but tried to brush it off. "Oh, shut up, Wade. You know what I mean…”

Hermione raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And what is that, Harry?"

Wade smirked, leaning in closer. "Oh, don't be coy, Harry. Tell us…”

Harry groaned, waving his hand dismissively. "Okay, enough of this! Can we please just order some food before Wade keeps embarrassing me in front of Hermione and Draco?"

Draco, who had been silently enjoying the whole conversation, chuckled. "Honestly, Potter, I think you're embarrassed enough on your own without Wade's help."

Harry shot him a look. "Not helping, Malfoy."

Hermione, still smiling, flipped open her menu. "All right, Harry, we'll drop the Captain America talk. For now. But I do think you should meet him one day. Maybe you'll see he's not so bad."

Harry huffed, clearly still grumpy about the whole thing. "Yeah, well, we'll see about that."

Wade leaned back in his chair, still smirking. "Oh, I can't wait for that day. Steve Rogers meeting Harry Potter? It's gonna be the most wholesome showdown of all time."

Hermione stifled a laugh. "Who knows? Maybe they'll even like each other."

Harry raised an eyebrow, his mood lightening just a bit. "Yeah, or maybe I'll give him a piece of my mind for getting too close to what's mine."

Wade grinned mischievously. "Still not sure if you're talking about Hermione or me and Peter, mate."

Harry sputtered again, clearly flustered. "I—I'm talking about Hermione!"

Draco chuckled, shaking his head. "Sure, Potter. Sure."

Harry groaned, picking up his menu. "Can we please just talk about food now? Enough about Steve bloody Rogers."

Hermione exchanged a knowing look with Wade, her smile never fading as the conversation shifted away from the legendary Captain America—for now.

As I flipped through the menu, the tension in the air was impossible to miss. Playful, but still thick with something more. Wade, always ready to stir the pot, leaned over toward Hermione with that mischievous grin of his. “So, what’s your poison tonight, beautiful? I’m thinking of something... decadent.”

Hermione, ever sharp, smirked back at him. “I’m in the mood for steak. Something rare,” she teased, throwing a wink in his direction. “But knowing you, Wade, you’ll probably want something smothered in cheese.”

Wade nodded dramatically, almost as if he’d rehearsed the move. “Oh, you know me too well. Anything with cheese, or better yet, cheese with a side of cheese. Or maybe a burger big enough to clog an artery.”

I couldn’t help but snicker quietly at that, flipping the page of my menu as Draco leaned toward Wade with a slow, sly grin. “Ah, Wade, ever the connoisseur of fine dining. But if you really want to indulge, I could order for you. Maybe something with a bit more... sophistication?” His voice was smooth, almost too smooth, lingering just long enough to feel deliberate. The way his eyes stayed on Wade—it was clear Draco knew exactly what he was doing.

Wade, ever the flirt, raised an eyebrow. “Oh, Malfoy, you wanna spoil me? Go ahead, make my night.”

I shifted slightly in my seat, glancing at Harry, and sure enough, his jaw was tight. He had been trying to ignore it, but Draco was playing with fire. Harry narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, Malfoy, why don’t you spoil him,” he said, his tone sharper than usual. And I could tell why—there was something about Draco flirting with Wade that clearly got under Harry’s skin.

Draco smirked at Harry, leaning in just a bit. “Jealous, Potter?” His voice was playful, but his words landed heavily. “You know, you’re always welcome to join in.”

Harry’s face flushed a little, and I had to bite back a smile. “I’m not jealous. I just think Wade can order for himself.”

Now, this was where I couldn’t resist stepping in. The way Harry’s mood had shifted—he needed a distraction, and maybe, just maybe, I was the perfect one to offer it. “Actually, Harry,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my heart was pounding a bit faster. “I was thinking you and I should split something.”

He blinked, clearly caught off guard by my sudden offer. His eyes met mine, and I felt the familiar warmth of my affection rise up. “Oh, uh, yeah, Peter, sure. What do you have in mind?”

I smiled at him, softer this time, trying to show him I enjoyed his company. “How about the grilled salmon? It’s light, but it still sounds delicious. And maybe... we could order the steak too? Share both?” My suggestion felt a little bold, but I liked the idea of us sharing, of us enjoying something together.

Harry’s grin was instant, and the way he looked at me made my heart skip a beat. “Yeah, that sounds perfect. Let’s do that.”

Before I could settle into the warm feeling spreading through me, Wade chimed in again, turning to Draco with an exaggerated grin. “Okay, Draco, you gonna order something sophisticated for me or what?”

Draco chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “How about the filet mignon, medium rare, with a side of truffle fries? That’s my way of saying I know how to treat a man.”

Wade shot him a wink. “Oh, Malfoy, you sure know how to sweet-talk a guy. Keep it up, and I might just fall for you.”

I glanced at Harry out of the corner of my eye, and sure enough, he didn’t look amused. His gaze shifted between Draco and Wade, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Can we please order and eat before this gets even weirder?” he said, exasperation creeping into his tone.

Hermione, who had been calmly flipping through her own menu, glanced at Harry with an amused smirk. “Oh, Harry, it’s not that weird. You’re just not used to sharing your attention, are you?”

Harry sputtered a bit. “I’m perfectly fine sharing!”

Draco raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself. “Are you sure, Potter? Because you seem a little... possessive.”

Wade leaned in closer, resting his chin in his hand with a smirk. “It’s cute, actually. I like a little jealousy. Makes things... spicy.”

Harry rolled his eyes, clearly flustered now. “I’m not jealous! And I can't be jealous anyway…Wade isn't mine…I can't be possessive over a person who has free will! I'm just hungry!”

The waiter arrived, and I could feel the heat between everyone cool just a bit as we placed our orders. Harry and I went ahead with the grilled salmon and the steak, agreeing to split them, which made me secretly happy.

As the food arrived, conversation picked up again, and Wade couldn’t resist leaning over to Harry with that playful grin of his. “So, Harry, what’s it like being the Chosen One and all? I mean, with that face, you must get hit on all the time.”

Harry coughed, nearly choking on his salmon, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “What me? Well I…I don't know about that…no…i–I mean…”

Draco, of course, took the opportunity to chime in. “Oh, come on, Potter, answer the man’s question. I’m curious too.”

Harry shot Draco a glare, but I could see there wasn’t any real anger behind it. “I don’t get hit on all the time, Malfoy. And I’m not even the ‘Chosen One’ anymore. That was years ago.”

I leaned forward then, meeting Harry’s eyes with a smile that I hoped would soften his mood. “You’re still pretty amazing, Harry. Even without the whole Chosen One thing.”

Harry looked at me, and for a moment, I could see his guard lower. He blushed slightly, but smiled back. “Thanks, Peter.”

Draco, watching us, smirked. “Oh, look at that. Parker’s got a soft spot for you, Potter.”

I felt my face heat up, but I didn’t deny it. “Harry’s... special.”

Wade, never one to miss a beat, leaned back with a grin. “Well, now we’re just a big ol’ love quadrangle, aren’t we?”

Harry groaned, rubbing his temples. “Why does it feel like I’m surrounded by chaos?”

Hermione laughed, taking a bite of her steak. “Because you are, Harry. Welcome to your life.”

Draco winked at Wade. “If it helps, Harry, you don’t have to fight for my attention. You know I love that Slytherin side of you, or something like that,” he ended with a smirk. “What was it you said on new years…you'd love to…slyther–in?”

Harry choked on his bourbon and blushed profusely. “I hate all of you.”

Wade grinned, raising his glass. “To Harry Potter, the man of the hour! Everyone wants a piece of you, mate.”

Harry sighed, shaking his head but smiling despite himself. “You lot are going to drive me insane.”

Hermione raised her glass, laughing. “To Harry, who always keeps things interesting, whether he likes it or not.”

We all clinked our glasses together, the playful flirting and banter continuing, but I couldn’t help stealing another glance at Harry as the night went on. He was flustered, sure, but I could see it—he was enjoying this, even if he wouldn’t admit it. And I was glad to be right there with him.

Harry
After spending nearly $12,000 on lunch, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter in the wallet, but it was worth it for the laughs and the good time. Peter and Wade decided to take their own path for a bit and headed off to an arcade, which left me, Draco, and Hermione to head to the Gringotts branch in New York.

We walked in, and Hermione was her usual, organized self, already pulling out documents. Draco had that look on his face—the one that said he was probably already thinking about how to use his position to gain something extra. But this was business, and I had some things to check on.

We met with the branch manager and were led into a private room. I made it clear that Hermione was my financial partner, Draco was my acquisitions guy and business manager, and naturally, they both had to be there for the bigger decisions. I checked on my companies, looked over my investments, and then leaned forward with a slight smile.

“I think I’m going to buy Peter’s apartment building,” I said, watching Hermione raise an eyebrow.

She gave me a knowing look. “What?”

“The kid’s living in a slum,” I said, shrugging. “I’ll fix it up, and he won’t have to pay rent. He's a student and a superhero. I’m doing a public service.”

Hermione gave me that look again, but she didn’t argue. I had already made up my mind. I turned to Draco. “Get it done. I want the whole place remodeled magically in two weeks. Each unit’s to be expanded just enough that no one notices. And make arrangements for the tenants—give them boarding until it's finished.”

Draco, as always, gave me that calculating glance. “You’re paying three times what the building’s worth, Harry. That’s... excessive.”

I shrugged. “It’s worth it. Just make it happen.”

I didn’t stop there, though. “Buy Wade’s building too. Same deal. Pay whatever they’re asking for and then some. I don’t want any arguments.”

Hermione’s eyes narrowed. “Are you seriously going to buy both of their buildings?”

I nodded, already thinking ahead. “Yep. And tell the tenants it’s being remodeled, but their rent won’t go up at all. Just make sure Peter and Wade hear it’s being tented for pests or something so they don’t get suspicious.”

Draco shook his head. “You’re getting out of hand with this.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Oh, Harry likes extravagant gifts. He bought me a castle for my birthday once because I liked the gargoyles.”

I grinned. “Speaking of gifts, I want to know what school Peter’s in.”

Draco shot me a look. “You’re not buying the school, Harry.”

I raised my hands. “Fine, fine. But I want his tuition paid in full for as long as he wants to go. If he wants 12 degrees, so be it. And I want a position created for him, through a shell company, something like ‘consultant’ or whatever works.”

Hermione snorted. “You’re going to hire him?”

I shrugged. “Him and Wade. Superhero work should pay, you know? What’s a decent salary in New York?”

The goblin who’d been assisting us spoke up. “For someone to live comfortably, they’ll need a minimum of $70,000 a year.”

I thought for a moment. “Alright. Let’s set their salary at $75,000 a year. I’ll figure out how to get them to accept it, but I want everything written up properly. I’ve already got their direct deposit info.”

Draco narrowed his eyes. “You peeked in their heads, didn’t you?”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Sue me. It’s not like I was snooping—just making sure I cover all the details.”

We moved on. “Alright,” I said, “where’s a good hotel in the area?”

The goblin thought for a moment before responding. “The Ritz-Carlton is a very nice option.”

“Perfect,” I said, not missing a beat. “Let’s book the residential suite. Or, hell, the top three floors and the roof for the next two weeks or so. And while we’re at it, make a sizable donation to Peter’s school. Enough to get the Dean to agree to a school holiday for the next two weeks. Everyone’s coming to hang out at the hotel while the remodeling gets finished up.”

I smiled, feeling very pleased with myself.

“Oh, and I’ll need a way to access my money without having to come in personally,” I added.

The goblin nodded and handed me a sleek black card, far more elegant than anything a Muggle could imagine. “This card has no limits,” he said. “You may use it for all transactions.”

I looked at it, admiring the design, then handed another one to Hermione. “You’ll need one too.”

Draco raised an eyebrow at me. “I still don’t understand why you're doing all this.”

I leaned back in my chair, a satisfied smirk on my face. “I like them…they have been good friends. And I have too much money anyway. If you're worried, make some deals and stuff, make me more to replace it.”

Draco chuckled, “on it.”

When we left the bank, Wade and Peter were waiting for us outside, looking like they'd been hanging out for a while. Peter raised an eyebrow and looked at me, then glanced over at Draco, Hermione, and me in turn. “Dude, you need a cellphone. You were in there for hours.”

“A what?” I asked, not sure I was following.

Wade chimed in, “Yeah, a cellphone. You don’t use phones?”

Draco smirked a bit, clearly amused by the idea. “Wizards are old school—quill and parchment.”

I glanced at the others and then back to Peter. “Should I get one?”

Peter shrugged, giving me that grin of his. “I mean, if you do, we can keep in touch when I’m at school or on missions, y’know?”

“Alright, let’s go then,” I said, already feeling like this was another thing I’d be learning the hard way.

“What kind do you want?” Peter asked, his hands shoved in his pockets.

I shrugged. “Good ones?”

Peter gave a small laugh. “Mine isn’t super reliable, honestly. Apple ones are better, but they’re more expensive. And the plan’s more expensive, too. Mine’s only like $50 a month.”

I paused, weighing the options. “Let’s get some apples then.” I didn’t care about the price; it was just another thing to figure out. And if Peter thought it was important, then it was worth it.

We entered the Apple store, and Peter immediately went to work, picking out phones for everyone. Hermione, Wade, Draco, Peter, and I all got one, though Wade and Peter protested. “You sure about this?” Wade asked, clearly reluctant to accept such a generous offer.

“Yeah, it’s for peace of mind,” I said, not missing the underlying concern in my voice. “If I can’t get ahold of you guys on a dangerous mission, I’ll worry. I don’t need that stress.” Both of them begrudgingly agreed after that.

Once the phones were sorted, we went over to AT&T to get them all activated. After that, I felt like I’d crossed another item off the list. Phones—check.

Before heading back, I stopped by a jewelry store to drop off the diamonds I’d mined for Hermione. They were rough, uncut stones, but I knew they’d be beautiful once they were properly shaped and set into earrings for her. She’d loved them when I showed her, so I was eager to see the final product.

Hermione did the same for me—she dropped off the diamond she’d mined for me, a gorgeous stone, to be cut and set into a ring. The jeweler promised they’d be ready in a few days, but I didn’t mind the wait. It was worth it to see how they’d turn out.

“Thank you,” Hermione said softly as we walked out of the store, looking at me with a smile.

“Anytime,” I said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

By the time we were done shopping, Wade and Peter had both gotten the notice that their buildings were being tented for pests and they wouldn’t be able to return for the next two weeks. Both of them looked a bit suspicious when they read the email, glancing at each other and then back at me.

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Wait... two weeks?"

I shrugged casually. "Oh, well. That’s just the way things go. I got rooms at some hotel anyway, you guys can stay with me!"

Wade snorted. “Uh-huh. That’s real convenient, isn’t it?”

Peter frowned, but before he could say anything, his phone pinged with an email notification. He checked it quickly, then looked up at me in disbelief. "Wait a second. My university's shutting down for a two-week vacation. Something about remodeling. It says it's thanks to a generous benefactor."

I couldn't help but grin. "Funny how things work out, right?"

Wade eyed me with suspicion, but I just kept that carefree smile on my face. "Look, it’s all good. I’ve got plenty of room at the hotel, so why not take advantage? You guys can hang out with us while everything gets sorted."

Draco gave me a pointed look, as if wondering how much of this Peter and Wade were buying, but I just winked at him and shrugged. Sometimes, a little extra generosity goes a long way.

Peter still seemed unsure, glancing at Wade, but neither of them argued. “I guess... a hotel for two weeks isn’t the worst thing,” Peter muttered, still a little skeptical but clearly willing to roll with it.

“Exactly!” I said, clapping him on the back. “You can’t argue with a free stay in a nice hotel. Trust me, I’ve already got it all worked out.”

Wade seemed to relax a little, though he still shot me a sideways glance. “You’re way too good at this whole ‘making things happen’ thing, you know that?”

I chuckled. “It’s just what I do.”

Peter’s face twisted in confusion and frustration. “I still have to go to work, you know,” he said, folding his arms stubbornly. “I can’t just hang out for two weeks.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “No problem. Draco, work this blasted thing and get me in touch with his boss,” he said, dangling the phone at Draco.

Peter’s eyes widened. “Wait, what? My boss would never give me two weeks off.”

Harry ignored him, as usual, and nudged Draco with the phone. Draco, looking reluctant but resigned, took it from him and dialed someone. A few moments later, he handed the phone back to Harry, who cast a silencing bubble around his head before speaking animatedly to the person on the other end.

When Harry finally hung up, Peter’s phone pinged again. He checked the email and froze, staring at it in disbelief. “I... I just got two weeks off with pay?”

Draco groaned beside him, already rubbing his temples. “How much am I going to have to pay to smooth that over?”

Harry shrugged nonchalantly, a sly grin on his face. “It wasn’t a threat! We just... donated some new equipment.”

Peter raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. “How much equipment?”

“You can’t put a price on quality time,” Harry replied, matter-of-fact. “It’s my love language. Also, I’m big on gift-giving.” He paused for effect then leaned in to whisper to Draco “I’ll need you to approve the transfer in the morning. It was quite large.”

Draco let out a long, dramatic groan, slumping in his seat. “You’re going to give me gray hair, Potter.”

Hermione smiled, watching the interaction with a glint of amusement in her eyes. “I think it’s sweet,” she said, nudging Harry gently. “By the way, the bill you stood against got shot down. And I had Pansy submit the requests, so I’m off for two more weeks, too!”

Harry’s eyes lit up. “Great! Two weeks of peace and quiet—just what I needed.” He leaned back, satisfied, watching as Peter and Wade exchanged a look, still processing everything.

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure what I just agreed to, but... I guess I’ll grab some stuff and see you at the hotel,” Peter muttered, clearly still in shock but no longer fighting it.

“Exactly!” Harry grinned. “We’ll all have a great time. No work, no stress, just luxury and relaxation. We have the top 3 floors of the Ritz.”

Draco sighed but didn’t argue, and Hermione just shook her head fondly, clearly amused by the way things always managed to work out in Harry’s world.

Peter
A few hours later, Wade and I walked up to the Ritz, each of us carrying pillowcases filled with clothes. Wade’s suitcase, however, was a different story—packed with weapons, it looked like he was ready for a small war. As we approached the entrance, a hotel attendant nearly tripped over himself rushing toward us.

“Mr. Wilson! Mr. Parker! Mr. Potter is waiting for you inside! Top floor! Please let me take your bags!”

Before either of us could react, our bags were snatched from our hands, and the man practically ran inside. We exchanged a quick glance and followed after him, stepping into the elevator and heading up to the top floor.

When the doors opened, I was immediately hit with the opulence of the suite. Harry, Hermione, and Draco were all there, and it was clear they’d settled in for the long haul. Harry and Hermione were sitting on the sofa, each engrossed in the same book between them, sipping wine and whiskey, respectively. Draco, on the other hand, was completely consumed by the paperwork spread across the desk in front of him across the room.

The bellman rushed forward with our bags, bowed to Harry, and said, “Is there anything else, Mr. Potter sir?”

Without looking up from the book he shared with Hermione, Harry casually handed the man a thick wad of cash and continued speaking as though he were reading. “We’ll need dinner delivered later. Let’s do... chimichangas smothered in cheese from some greasy spoon Mexican joint for Wade. A lot of them. Burgers and fries from a good hole in the wall for Peter. I'll do lamb—somewhere good. My wife here will probably want duck à l'orange, yes dear?” Hermione hummed in approval.

Harry didn’t even glance up. “And my partner will have a steak, rare. Accompanying sides all around. Shall we say at 7? And I’ll need better bourbon by then and much better red wine, my wife has expensive taste, obviously,” he said, gesturing lazily to himself. “And the pretty boy and his handsome friend should arrive soon—be sure to greet them accordingly.”

“They already,” the man began but Harry cut him off without realizing and kept talking.

“And when an order arrives from the jeweler on 21st Avenue for me, bring it straight up. It's a gift for my lovely wife and if it's lost I'll buy the whole hotel just to tear it apart looking for it then fire you,” Harry said lazily.

The bellman nodded quickly, looking utterly overwhelmed, but clearly trying to keep up. “Very good, sir. Of course, sir.” He bowed again and left, closing the door behind him.

Wade and I stood just inside the room, both of us observing Harry and the ease with which he was ordering everything around. He still hadn’t looked up from the book. Hermione, his eyes focused on the text, continued to tap his knee when she reached the end of a page, and he would dutifully turn it for her without missing a beat.

Draco, his attention fully on the paperwork, didn’t even seem to notice us standing there. He just kept his eyes glued to his documents, murmuring to Harry without ever acknowledging us. “Harry, dear, are you sure you want to acquire Tonsland? Its stock is declining.”

Harry responded in a calm, almost distracted tone, still not looking up. “Yes, I think if we break it up next quarter, we can make a six-figure profit. Luna also mentioned it and she's never wrong. I also want you to sell off those twelve properties in Athens. The market there is good right now; that should net us seven figures easy each. You did remarkable work on them.”

Draco hummed in agreement, scribbling something down on the page, his focus completely on Harry’s words. He didn’t glance up at us once.

“I like that property by the river,” Hermione pouted.

“Scratch that,” Harry said, “sell all but the one by the river. That one will be Hermione’s new potions lab.”

Hermione giggled, “thanks love.”

“Of course my darling,” he responded, bringing her hand up to kiss the back of it as he kept reading.

“That's the biggest one! And the most profitable,” Draco whined. “It's got 24 bedrooms!”

“Then gut it and turn it into a potions lab,” Harry said with a nonchalant wave of his hand, “with a nice greenhouse connected to it. Contact Neville to set that up, pay him a consulting fee of course.”

Harry, still absorbed in the book, continued as though the conversation were no more than idle chatter. “Oh, and Draco, the potion company I started—did we begin sale on that new potion Hermione and I worked up? For Vampires to help curb bloodlust?”

Draco paused for a moment, flipping through a few pages before responding. “No, I thought it was still in beta.”

Harry smiled, still not breaking his gaze from the pages of his book. “Oh no, the last four potions are ready for market. But I want to pull the ten worst sellers to save on stock space. Do a short sale with what stock is left.”

Draco muttered something to himself, no doubt making another note in the margins, his eyes never straying from the paper. “Alright.”

“One of those is healing, we could donate it to St. Mundigo’s hospital,” Hermione suggested.

“Excellent idea my love,” Harry said fondly. “Draco donate anything from that list to Mundigo’s and short sale the rest.”

"Fine, fine. You wanna throw money away, have at it… speaking of throwing away money, you know, the boys' home you bought is hemorrhaging money," Draco said, his voice neutral as he continued working.

Harry casually waved his hand. “It's alright. I want four more.”

Draco didn’t even look up, just exhaled loudly. “My job is to MAKE you money, Potter!”

Harry’s smirk was almost audible. “Good. So do your job and make it so I can spend it. I want orphanages eventually in each country for Muggle-borns with nowhere to go—to teach them magic. Ideally, I’d own all the orphanages and take care of all parentless children.”

Draco's groan was practically audible through the papers, but he still didn’t look at Harry. “Over my dead body.”

Hermione, who had been silently enjoying her wine, finally spoke up, her voice calm but firm. “Boys, we have company. Do keep it civil.”

That was when Harry finally looked up, and his gaze flicked to Wade and me, standing awkwardly by the door. For a moment, he didn’t seem to notice us, still completely focused on the book he was reading with Hermione. When he did notice, his face lit up with a grin.

“Ah, there you are! Welcome to the top floor!” He tossed his book aside, clearly delighted to finally acknowledge us. “Relax, fellas. This is your home for the next two weeks.”

Wade and I exchanged glances, unsure if Harry was serious or if we’d somehow wandered into some dreamscape. Either way, it seemed like we were stuck here, whether we liked it or not.

I shot Wade a look as Harry made himself comfortable again, now fully looking at us, but Hermione went right back to reading, seemingly at peace with the whirlwind of orders and plans surrounding her.

Wade’s voice broke the silence. “Uh... so... we’re really doing this for two weeks?”

Harry leaned back and gave him a nod. “Oh, definitely. Just relax, have fun, and enjoy the luxury. It’s the least I can do for my favorite superheroes.”

I chuckled at that, finally feeling a bit more at ease despite the bizarre nature of the situation.

Harry spelled the book so it floated for Hermione and stretched leisurely. “I’ve got some more work to finish with Draco, then he's heading home. Partially to work for me, partially to his pregnant wife. After that, we can do whatever we want! Rooms are that way, pick any you want. Me and Hermione are the last on the right. We’ve only got the two floors beneath us for privacy. This is a presidential suite; we all fit here.”

Wade grinned, practically vibrating with excitement. “Oh yeah, I’ll take the room with the most... comfortable amenities. No shame in that.” He gave me a wink. “Right, Spidey? I need my beauty sleep, y’know.”

I rolled my eyes, nudging Wade as we took in the room’s grandeur. “I think we should just pick one at random, and then throw a pillow fight to determine who sleeps where. You know, traditional hotel settling.”

Wade snorted. “Ah, but the bed’s got to have maximum comfort to accommodate my chiseled body.” He flexed dramatically. “You gotta make sure I have room for my Deadpool-ness.”

I shot him a look. “Deadpool-ness? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

Before he could answer, Draco let out a long, dramatic groan. “Harry, did you agree to donate $76,000 to that newspaper company so you could hang out with Peter for 2 weeks?!”

I gasped, half-joking. “You did what?! What do you even do with that kind of money?! Are we buying the moon now?”

Harry waved me off, he’d pulled Hermione into his lap and was engrossed in their book again. “Their equipment was miserable. Consider it a charitable donation. Besides... I want to buy it.”

Draco blinked in disbelief. “It’s a publicly traded company. You can’t just buy it.”

Harry glanced up for a split second and smirked. “Fine, hostile takeover. Just make it happen. I did some research. They sometimes say awful things about Spider-Man. Not anymore. They’ll report in favor of the superhero literally risking his life for the ungrateful public.”

Wade snickered. “Wow, Harry. You’re like the Robin Hood of weirdly specific vendettas.”

I crossed my arms and grinned. “Hey, if he’s Robin Hood, does that make me Little John? Because I’ve got the whole ‘big stick’ thing going for me.”

Draco rubbed his temples like he was trying to stave off a headache. “It’ll take a few months to arrange at least.”

Harry shrugged, still not looking up from his book. “Fine, just make it happen.”

Hermione giggled, “You should buy the Daily Profit too, then.”

Harry shifted his attention to her, still not fully lifting his eyes from the book. “Draco, my wife wants the Daily Profit.”

Draco groaned even louder. “You can't be serious!”

“Draco, my wife wants the daily profit…” Harry repeated slower.

Draco groaned, “Yes, Potter.”

Wade smirked and leaned in, nudging me. “Hey, Spider-Boy, do you think Harry’s gonna just pull a ‘check please!’ and buy out the entire newspaper industry?”

I shrugged. “Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised.”

Wade grinned. “If he can do that, then I want him to buy me a new set of matching pajamas. You know, ones that say ‘I’m Deadpool, and I’m fabulous!’”

I snickered. “Well, that request isn’t nearly as expensive as a hostile takeover.”

But before Wade could respond, I couldn’t help myself. “Hey, can you buy the New York Yankees?”

Harry didn’t even blink. “Draco, buy the New York Yankees.”

Draco shot me a death glare. “Potter, that would cost around 7 billion american dollars!”

Harry didn’t miss a beat. “Eh, it’s still cheaper than the island I bought Hermione for her birthday a few summers ago.”

Hermione giggled. “He named it MiTopia! It had the most breathtaking views.”

I quickly waved my hands. “No, wait! I was joking!”

Harry raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “So you don’t want it?”

I shook my head so quickly I thought I might get whiplash. “No!”

Harry sighed, turning the page. “Alright, Draco, scratch that last request.”

Draco, looking like he was about to pass out, sighed in relief. “Thank Merlin.”

Wade clapped his hands. “Phew, saved by the bell, huh, Spider-Man?”

I shrugged dramatically. “I was really looking forward to that yacht club membership, though.”

Wade gave me an exaggerated pout. “Ah, come on! Don’t tell me you’re not excited for that vacation house in the Bahamas.”

“Well,” I said, glancing at Harry, “if he was willing to buy the Yankees, I’ll throw in a suggestion for a new superhero-themed roller coaster at Six Flags. Definitely worth it.”

Wade snickered. “You know, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Harry buys the Yankees. could you really afford that?”

Harry turned to Draco. “Draco?”

Draco didn’t even hesitate. “Technically, yes. It wouldn’t even wipe out one percent of one of his 47 vaults, but it’s not recommended. It’s a depreciating commodity. At least the island increased in value.”

Harry shrugged. “Eh, you handle all that number stuff; it gives me a headache.”

Draco gave him a pointed look. “You give me one.”

At this, Harry’s eyes finally met Draco’s. “Did I mention I’m giving you a raise now that Astoria’s having a baby? Hermione and I discussed it.”

“You are?!” Draco visinly perked up.

“Yeah, Whatever I’m paying you... double it.” Harry said easily.

Draco’s face lit up, and his entire demeanor changed as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “Suddenly, my head feels better.”

I threw my arm around Wade’s shoulders. “Alright, let’s find a room before Draco starts planning the next ridiculous thing Harry's going to buy.”

Wade leaned into me. “You know, Spider-Boy, I’m starting to think you’re secretly enjoying this whole... rich guy thing.”

“Maybe,” I admitted, “but I think the pillow fight will be a better test of who gets the best bed.”

Wade’s eyes gleamed. “Now that I can get behind.”

We wandered off, picking rooms on opposite sides of Harry’s suite for a little bit of distance, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was getting more and more used to the ridiculousness of this world I’d found myself in. Harry, Hermione, Draco—these people were so far out of my league it was comical. But hey, at least they were kind enough to let us crash in their crazy, extravagant suite.

Eventually, we made our way back toward the living area, where Harry and Draco were still deeply immersed in the business talk. They barely acknowledged us, and frankly, it was fun watching Harry in his element. Hermione was laying across the couch, her head in Harry's lap with a book hovering over her face and another in front of Harry's and they were both reading while Harry spoke to Draco.

Draco finished up, stretching with a groan. "Alright, all in all, we should actually be up 500,000 galleons even after all your expenditures. I’ll return in a few days to check in, but if I’m out any later, my wife will send a search party."

Harry barely looked up from his book but gave a lazy wave. "Send our love."

Draco nodded, giving us a half smile. "Always. Goodnight, Potter, and Mrs. Potter." He gave a pointed glance our way. "Goodnight, Peter and Wade, Harry’s kept boy toys."

Wade wiggled his eyebrows, flashing a grin. “Hey, if you’re offering, I’d love to be a kept man. Just, you know, a little extra chimichangas, and I’m all yours.”

I rolled my eyes, playfully elbowing him. “As long as I don’t have to wear a cape, I’m good with being kept, too.”

Harry’s grin only widened as he set down his book, finally acknowledging us. “Good, I have a proposition for you two. Come, sit.”

Wade immediately perked up. "Is it an island? I could go for a private island."

I shot him a look. "Let’s hear him out first before you get carried away."

Harry motioned for us to sit down and continued, looking like a mischievous cat about to make a deal. "It was fun playing hero, wasn’t it? I’d love to go again. No cape, as Peter said, and Hermione will have to design a better costume, but it was FUN! Maybe after dinner?"

I shrugged, a grin tugging at my lips. "Sure, why not? More hero stuff sounds great."

"Great!" Harry said, beaming. He slid a thick stack of papers toward us. "Now, sign these."

I flipped through them with a groan. “This has got to be at least a thousand pages of paperwork.”

Harry smirked, waving it off. "It's all standard stuff: liability waivers, release forms, nothing too crazy. Draco had it drafted. Just sign."

Wade didn’t even glance at the pages, just grabbed the pen and signed in one fluid motion. I hesitated a moment but shrugged. Harry had been pretty generous, so I followed suit and signed.

"Excellent," Harry said, nodding approvingly. "Now, I want you to quit your job at the paper. It’s clearly stressing you out. I’ve taken the liberty of drafting a resignation letter for you. If you want to take pictures for fun, that’s fine. But not for living expenses."

My eyebrows shot up. "Harry, I can’t just quit. I need the money."

Harry leaned back casually, still not looking at us. "Well, I’m your boss now. You just signed a non-compete agreement, and I own three other papers. So, you’re going to have to. But don’t worry." He waved us off. "Check your bank accounts."

I pulled out my phone and stared at the deposit. "Wait... What the hell?!"

"Yep," Harry said, grinning like a cat that just ate the canary. "You’re officially my superhero advisors. Good salary, full benefits, direct deposit, and all that jazz. No takebacks. Vacation whenever you want, sick days, the whole package."

Wade did a dramatic double-take, then slapped me on the back. "Peter, my man, I think we just got new jobs!”

I was still blinking at my phone in disbelief. "For what exactly? Saving the day?”

"Exactly," Harry said with a smirk. "Superhero work should pay, now it does! Alright, let’s eat, do some superhero stuff, and then how about a movie night in matching pajamas? What do you think?"

Wade squealed. "YES! Matching pajamas?! Oh, Harry, you’re a magician! Make it happen, magic man!"

Harry winked at him, leaning back in his chair. "I’ll make it happen, don’t worry."

The door swung open and BOOM, a mountain of chimichangas—literally a pile—was delivered to the room, with Wade’s name on it in big, bold letters. Wade’s eyes went wide. “Oh. My. God.”

He didn’t hesitate for a second, diving in like it was his last meal on Earth. "I’m gonna need a second stomach for this!"

I couldn’t help but laugh as Wade practically inhaled the first batch. "You’re gonna get so sick if you keep going like that."

Wade barely looked up, his mouth full. "Nope. This is how a true hero eats, Peter. Gotta fuel up for the superhero shenanigans."

He also got burgers for me, duck for Hermione and lamb for himself. I turned to Harry, grinning. "You really know how to treat your employees."

Harry just chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Well, what’s the point of being rich if you can’t spoil your friends... and your superheroes?"

We all dug into our meals as Wade continued scarfing down chimichangas, his face one of pure bliss. Harry leaned back in his chair, looking satisfied. "Alright, let’s eat, and after that, some superhero stuff. And then pajamas. It’s gonna be a good night."

Wade, mouth full of chimichangas, gave Harry a thumbs-up. "Best. Night. Ever."

After dinner, the mood shifted into a more serious tone, but not without the usual banter. Hermione was already on her feet, gathering supplies from the various magical shelves around the room. With a small flick of her wrist, she started muttering incantations under her breath. A few seconds later, Harry stood still, eyes twinkling with anticipation, as Hermione transfigured his outfit into something far more fitting for the night's patrol.

"Hold still," Hermione said, her voice firm with concentration as she added a final touch. The room was filled with the sound of fabric shifting and the hum of magic.

Before long, Harry's new suit took shape: a sleek, black ensemble with a deadly, silver Deathly Hallows symbol emblazoned on the chest. The symbol shimmered as if alive, glowing faintly in the dim light of the room. The suit was form-fitting, designed for both speed and strength, but there was something more... powerful about it. A hood, charmed to obscure his face, settled neatly over Harry’s head, leaving only his glowing green eyes visible beneath the shadowed fabric. The hood itself seemed to have a life of its own, shifting and moving subtly with the air around him.

He glanced down at the boots Hermione had transfigured—silver, snake skin, and perfectly molded to fit him. His silver belt was emblazoned with intricate, coiling snake patterns that matched the snakes woven into the edges of his cape. The cape itself was dramatic, the snakes snaking around the edges and curling toward the Deathly Hallows symbol, adding a deadly touch to the ensemble.

Peter immediately protested the cape. "You’re really going with the cape, huh? This isn't a Halloween costume, Harry. Capes are dangerous!”

Harry, already admiring the suit in the mirror, gave Peter a playful glance. "You know what they say—fashion before function."

Wade snorted, leaning back on the couch, eyes wide with mock admiration. "Oh, this is the look, man. You’re going full villain chic now. It’s like someone finally decided you needed a wardrobe upgrade."

"I’ll take it under consideration," Harry said, straightening his posture as he adjusted the belt. "I feel pretty damn powerful in this."

Hermione, now with a satisfied smile on her face, walked over and kissed Harry's cheek. "You look perfect, Harry. Just be careful out there. And be good," she added, her voice warm but with a hint of motherly concern.

Wade gave a mock salute. "We shall keep him safe Hermione!”

"I’ll try to keep it professional," Harry said, his voice slightly amused. He turned to Peter and Wade, his expression becoming more serious. "Alright, you two ready for patrol?"

"Always," I said with a grin, my spidey-senses already tingling in anticipation. "Let’s go, Deadpool. Time to save the city. Or at least make it a bit more interesting."

Wade threw up his hands in mock exasperation. "Alright, alright. But only because I look this good in a mask. And let’s be real, no one’s gonna see me with that sexy new superhero anyway."

"Let’s just keep it together," I said, trying not to crack a smile. "We’ve got work to do."

With a final kiss from Hermione om each of our cheeks, and a wave goodbye, the three of us headed out. We were ready to patrol the streets and do what heroes do best: cause a little chaos and fight evil in style. As the door shut behind us, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement—it was going to be a good night.

As the door shut behind us, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement—it was going to be a good night. The city lights flickered above, and the air felt charged with the potential for adventure. Wade was already bouncing on his heels, humming some ridiculous tune under his breath as he twirled his katanas.

"So, what’s the game plan tonight, boys?" Wade asked, grinning under his mask. "A little cat burglary busting? Maybe stop a heist? Or we could go after a villain and make a mess of things."

Harry shot him a look, his cloak billowing slightly in the wind as he adjusted it. "Let’s focus on the 'stop the heist' part, alright? The last thing we need is more chaos than we can handle."

"Chaos? Oh, that’s my middle name, Potter," Wade quipped, twirling a pistol now in his hand before holstering it. "I say we let loose a little. How about you, Pete? Ready to unleash the ol' web-slinger?"

I smirked, scanning the streets below. "Just another night of keeping New York safe. Let’s see what we can find."

We swung from rooftop to rooftop, Harry floating alongside us with a flick of his wand, guiding himself through the city like he’d been born here. His focus was unbreakable, and even though I was used to being the quick one, Harry had his own kind of grace. Wade, on the other hand, was… well, Wade. He was leaping off buildings, shooting wildly into the air, not really hitting anything but still somehow staying with us.

It didn’t take long before we heard it—a sudden crash followed by panicked shouts. My spider-sense tingled as we reached the edge of the block. Below, a bank’s front window was smashed in, alarms blaring into the night, and inside, a group of masked robbers was making their move.

"Right on cue," I muttered, launching a web to a nearby lamppost and swinging down.

Harry and Wade were quick to follow. "Looks like we got ourselves a party," Wade said with a chuckle, cracking his knuckles.

As we approached, I could see the robbers, guns raised, shouting at the terrified hostages. I felt my muscles tense, ready to act. Harry slipped to the side, already murmuring a spell under his breath. Wade, of course, was marching straight for the front door.

"Wade!" I hissed, trying to stop him. "You can’t just walk in like that!"

"Watch me," he said with a wink. "You’re welcome."

Before I could argue, Wade strolled into the bank, guns in hand, as if this was the most casual thing in the world. The robbers, noticing him, swung their weapons toward him in panic. Wade raised his arms in mock surrender.

"Hey, hey, boys! Let’s take it easy. No need for all this tension." His voice was sing-songy, playful, and I could tell it was about to get messy.

I groaned. "Harry, get ready."

Harry nodded, wand at the ready, already anticipating what came next. I swung in through a broken window, landing silently on the wall, ready to drop in at any moment.

The robbers hesitated, but one of them—the leader, by the look of it—shouted, "You! Get out of here, or we start shooting!"

"Ah, yes," Wade replied, twirling his katana with an exaggerated flourish. "Shooting. Because that’s worked so well in the past."

As the robbers got more desperate, one of them raised his gun and pointed it at a trembling hostage, finger ready to pull the trigger.

I didn’t even need to think about it—my spider-sense was already tingling. "Not on my watch."

I shot a web to the gun, yanking it away before the guy could pull the trigger. But then another robber, in a panic, fired directly at the hostage standing next to him. I barely had time to react when suddenly, a wave of silver light glinted in the air.

Harry raised his hand, his cloak swirling around him. The bullets stopped mid-air, hanging there like they’d hit an invisible barrier. For a moment, time stood still as the projectiles hovered, suspended. "No one is getting hurt tonight," Harry said, his voice calm but forceful.

The robbers froze in shock, their guns useless, the bullets caught in mid-air like magic.

"Nice trick," I said, giving Harry a nod as I swung toward one of the robbers trying to make a break for it. "I’ll take care of this guy."

As I webbed the criminal up, Harry stepped forward, his silver boots tapping lightly against the ground. With a snap of his fingers, the suspended bullets dropped to the floor with a metallic clink. He moved quickly, using his magic to bind the robbers in place.

"We need to get them tied up before they try anything else," Harry said, his voice low but commanding.

I was already a step ahead, webbing the man I’d caught to the floor. "Already on it.”

Just as I was about to secure the last robber, I heard a shout from behind me. One of them had moved around the bank’s counter and raised his gun directly at Harry.

"Watch out!" I yelled, diving to push Harry out of the way.

But before I could reach him, Wade—who had been hanging back—suddenly appeared in a blur, launching himself between Harry and the bullet.

The gunshot rang out, and for a split second, I thought I’d missed it.

But then I saw Wade standing there, looking completely unbothered, a bullet lodged in his chest.

"Wade!" I shouted, heart racing.

He gave me an exaggerated thumbs-up, the bullet barely even leaving a mark on him. "Oh, come on, Pete. You think a little bullet's gonna slow me down?"

Harry stared at him, wide-eyed, for a split second before his face broke into a smirk. "You’re impossible."

Wade shrugged, walking over to the downed robber with the bullet still lodged in his chest. "It's all part of the charm, baby." He pulled the gun from the guy's hand with a flick of his wrist, knocking him out cold with a single punch. "Now, no more interruptions, alright?"

I sighed, a mix of relief and frustration. "You are so lucky you're invincible."

"Exactly," Wade replied with a wink, "and lucky you’ve got a guy like me on your team. No one’s gonna hurt Harry while I’m around."

Harry shot Wade a look. "You're a piece of work, Wade."

"Aw, you're just jealous of my superhero abilities," Wade said with a smirk. He turned to me, waggling his eyebrows. "And Peter? You know, I could teach you how to take a bullet like that—"

I rolled my eyes. "I’ll pass, thanks."

With the robbers tied up, Harry made a quick gesture, and the police arrived just in time to take over. He shot a look at the criminals, now secured in place, and then at Wade, who was still fiddling with the bullet in his chest like it was some new toy.

"Alright," Harry said, shaking his head. "Let’s get out of here before Wade does anything else ridiculous."

Wade grinned. "Too late, already on my way out. Let’s go do some hero stuff, huh?"

I couldn’t help but laugh. "I guess we can’t stop you."

"Exactly!" Wade cheered as we made our way back into the shadows. "Onward, gentlemen, to the next chaotic adventure!"

And just like that, the bank robbery was wrapped up, but I had a feeling there would be more ridiculousness in store for the night. It was never just a normal patrol when Wade was involved.

The night had been intense—bank robbers, carjackers, and some guys in an alley causing trouble. But now, here we were, sprawled out on the roof of a hotel, panting, trying to catch our breath. The city below us was peaceful and quiet, the distant hum of traffic and the occasional car alarm blending into the calm of the night.

"Well, that was... chaotic," I said, breaking the silence as I wiped some sweat from my forehead.

Wade, who was lounging on the edge of the roof, gave me a dramatic sigh. "Yeah, but you know what? I do love me some drama. Especially when I get to punch things. Plus, that carjack was a nice touch."

"Yeah, and that alley," I added, shaking my head. "I wasn’t sure if we were saving the girl or just making a scene."

"Both?" Wade suggested with a grin. "I mean, we definitely made a scene."

Harry, who had been pacing with his hands in his pockets, looked up at the sky, his eyes glowing faintly. "It’s nice, though. The city, the quiet. I forgot how peaceful it can be up here."

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, after all that, it’s nice to just... breathe for a minute."

Wade flopped back onto the roof, his arms spread out dramatically. "I like that. Breathe in, breathe out... okay, I’m good for now. What’s next? A rooftop karaoke contest?"

"I’m gonna pass on that one," Harry said, half-smiling.

"Yeah, me too," I agreed, chuckling. "Not really feeling the spotlight."

Wade shot me a playful look. "No worries, Pete. I’d sing for you. But let’s be real, it’d be amazing."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh yeah, I'm sure."

Harry looked over at Wade, an amused smirk on his face. "You know, sometimes I think you’re more trouble than you’re worth. But it’s never boring with you around."

Wade gave him a wink. "That’s the idea, man. Never boring, always entertaining."

I shot a quick glance at Harry, catching his eye. There was something about tonight, the quiet after all the chaos, that felt... right. "You feeling good?" I asked, nudging him with my shoulder.

Harry gave a small, contented sigh. "Yeah. Honestly? I feel alive again. Like I’ve got purpose. It's been a while since I’ve felt like this. Thanks, you guys. This—" He gestured at the night, the city, and us—"this is... this is what I needed."

Wade, always the one to make light of a moment, sat up and gave a dramatic gasp. "Well, looks like Harry Potter found his purpose. Does this mean we’re getting matching team tattoos now?"

Harry just chuckled. "Maybe after another patrol, Wade. I’m not that impulsive."

Wade grinned. "You say that now. Just wait until we’re in a bar, a couple drinks deep, and I’ll definitely get you both to agree to something."

"Please don’t," I said, already regretting the thought. "Last time, I ended up with a tattoo of a cat playing a violin."

Harry shook his head with a smirk. "I don’t even want to know how that happened."

After a few more minutes of relaxed banter, we decided it was time to head inside. Harry raised a hand, muttering something under his breath, and in an instant, we were inside the apartment, the familiar warmth of it enveloping us. Hermione was sprawled on the couch, her head hanging off the edge, absorbed in a book.

"Hey, look who’s back," she said with a soft smile, without looking up. "Welcome home, boys." She set her book aside and leaned up to plant a kiss on Harry’s cheek before wrapping him in a hug. "How was it?"

Harry sighed contentedly as he returned the hug. "Amazing. Honestly, I felt like I had a purpose again. Like I was doing something that mattered. It was... well, it was exactly what I needed."

Hermione smiled, running her fingers through his hair. "I’m glad to hear that. I knew you’d feel that way."

I sat down next to them, giving Harry a light nudge with my shoulder. "Yeah, and I think he’s addicted to it now. Just don't let the thrill get to your head!"

"Please, like I’d want to go back to being boring," he replied with a grin.

Hermione waved her wand and all of our clothes suddenly shimmered and changed into matching pajamas. My Spidey suit, Wade’s Deadpool getup, and Harry’s Deathly Hallows symbol in silver were now emblazoned on soft, comfy pajama shirts.

Deadpool’s eyes went wide. "Oh, I’m so down for this. Pajama party, here I come!" He gave a loud, delighted screech and jumped up to do a little dance in the middle of the living room. "This is fantastic. Best. Night. Ever."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but there was a fondness in her smile. "I had them send us literally hundreds of movies to pick from," she said. "And I set up a projector for us. It’s movie night."

Before I could protest the idea of watching a movie in pajamas, Hermione waved her wand again, and suddenly the floor beneath us transformed into a soft, spongey surface. It was like laying on a giant, cushy mattress. Blankets and pillows appeared around us, and a mountain of snacks appeared on a table nearby.

Wade threw himself down onto the floor, immediately grabbing a handful of chips. "First movie, let’s go! Aladdin! Classic. And I’m calling dibs on the snacks. You guys just keep your hands off the popcorn."

Hermione settled in next to Harry, her head resting gently on his lap. "You’re not really going to let him eat all the popcorn, are you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I know better than to fight him for it," Harry said with a chuckle, running his fingers through her hair.

I sat down next to them, shoulder to shoulder with Harry, and Wade sprawled himself out across our legs, completely content. "This is how every night should end," I said, sinking into the cushions.

Wade immediately grabbed a piece of popcorn and shoved it in his mouth. "Agreed, Pete. Agreed."