Just Some Fun.
"I'll see you next lesson then, Harry," Lupin said, walking him out of his office. They'd just finished another Patronus lesson, even though Harrison didn't really need it.
"See you, Professor," He grinned, walking down the hallway. He only ever called Lupin 'Professor' when not in private, in case Dumbledore stumbled across them. The guy didn't exactly seem fond of the idea of Harrison knowing things, especially in the form of family. The castle was its usual self. Full of magic, comforting in a way only home would make you feel. Empty due to curfew being just minutes away. Which is probably why he didn't expect to come across Malfoy, alone, on the way to the dorms.
"Uh... Malfoy?" His voice startled the blonde, who's head snapped towards Harrison. The shock was replaced almost instantly by confusion, then suspicion, eyes narrowing.
"Potter," He scowled, but voice lacked the venom it used to have, "What are you doing out this late? And alone? Trying to get killed by Sirius Black? Or are you going for having your soul sucked out by a dementor instead?"
"Is that worry I hear, Malfoy?" Harrison asked, supressing his smirk when Malfoys jaw dropped.
"What?!"
"I mean, I don't even think the teachers are worrying that much, Lupin just let me go himself."
"That was not what I meant, Potter."
He hummed, continuing his way back to Gryffindor Tower, "What are you doing out, alone, yourself Malfoy?"
"That's none of your business, Potter." Malfoy scoffed, following after Harrison, "And what is with you and the golden two this year?"
Harrison looked at him, furrowing his eyebrows, "This again?"
"Yes!" Malfoy snapped, "You three are up to something! You're constantly in the library, always disappearing down the incorrect hallways after lessons yet manage to get to them on time, using advanced spells-"
"It's a 5th year privacy charm," Most of the time, anyways.
"-And you're acting different in general!" Malfoy continued, looking entirely frustrated, "You're befriending people from other houses, haven't started any sort of... fight with me or the other Slytherins! I even heard you talking about Heirships with that Abbot girl two days ago."
Harrison stopped walking a few seconds before Malfoy did, causing him to turn slightly and look back, "What is it now, Potter? Catch sight of Black?"
There was a rather long pause, in which you could hear the distant movement of the moving staircase, and the magic surrounding it in Harrisons case.
"Are you stalking me, Malfoy?"
"..."
"..."
"No."
"Oh you so are."
"I most certainly am not. That's slander to even accuse me of such," But his slowly growing red face betrayed him.
"That's adorable, Malfoy, truly," Harrison snorted, walking past the stuttering Malfoy. This was starting to become a thing between them.
"Excuse me?! I'll have you know, Malfoys are not cute."
"Must be the Black blood then."
"Potter!" Oh he did not sound happy.
"Yes, Malfoy?" He stopped walking, looking over his shoulder at Malfoy, who hadn't moved from his spot.
There was another small silence between the two, in which Harrison stood relaxed and Malfoy stood tense, full of suspicion, "You changed."
"Brilliant observation."
"Why? You've been like this since before the year began, and I want to know bloody why."
Harrison weighed out his options. He could tell Malfoy what he'd already told him, or something closer to the truth. Maybe something in between. Anything to get him off his back, he supposed.
"I found something out over the summer. Made me rethink my previous choices."
"Now what is that supposed to mean?"
Harrison tilted his head, debating on what to say next, "That befriending Slytherins wouldn't be so bad."
He turned, not looking back on the most definitely baffled Malfoy, intent on making it back to the common room before curfew. There were only 2 minutes left after all.
=========================
Ron burst out laughing when Harrison retold the events on why he was almost late, sending Hermione into a fit of giggles.
"What does he think your trying to do? Become the next Dark Lord?"
"After last year? I wouldn't put it past him."
"You know that you practically suggested you wanted to befriend Malfoy, Harry, don't you?"
"Yeah, I realised after I said it."
"Oh bloody hell, Hermione." Ron groaned, sliding off the sofa and onto the floor next to her.
"What?"
"You predicted this as well! On the train!"
"Did I?"
"You're not allowed to open your mouth again, you hear me?" Ron insisted, voice turning into a grumble as he continued, "Befriending Malfoy. Of all people."
"Watch Harry date him before 6th year." Hermione hummed, stroking Crookshanks as he walked past.
"That's not funny!" Ron and Harrison yelped in unison, eyes going wide.
"Oh honestly, boys, Harry could do worse."
"Oh yeah, like who?" Harrison asked
"How about Snape?" Fred suggested, walking past the trio to sit on the arm of the sofa.
All three of them gagged.
"Oh my God I cant get the image out of my head."
"That's vile."
"I'm never forgiving you for ever suggesting that, your older brother rights have been revoked."
"Harrykins, that's not fair at all! All I did was give a valid suggestion!"
"I'm going to go scoop my eyes out and rip my ears off."
"I'll join you, Ron."
==============
With their busy schedules and homework load, February quickly turned into March, which turned into April. They were enjoying themselves far much more than they have in previous years. Which honestly isn't saying much. Their first year was, well, their first year, and they didn't know what to expect and were easily distracted, and there was the whole, you know, Voldemort-at-the-back-of-his-teachers-head thing going on. And attempted murder. And then the year before they had a bloody basilisk going around the school, dark lord and heir of Slytherin allegations, and a teen Voldemort and his diary. So, really there were low expectations.
But they still found themselves enjoying lessons. And Harrison was finding himself third-wheeling Hermione and Ron.
Ron obviously was oblivious to A, Hermione's feelings and B, his own feelings. He might be in denial though.
Hermione was at least in knowledge of her feelings towards Ron, but was oblivious to the fact she may have any chance of him liking her back.
He was stuck with listening to Hermione complain about her feelings and Oh merlin I can't believe I let this happen during Divination, which was mostly just amusing, and Ron and Have you ever noticed that about Hermione?
He wondered how long it would take for them to realise they liked each other. Probably a while, in all honesty. Ron may be smart, but he was like a blind man when it came to his own feelings.
Hermione would definitely be the one to make the first move. He, George, Ginny, Lavender and Seamus all put bets on what they'd think would happen.