Fluff and talks
The Halloween costume ball was in full swing, the Great Hall transformed into a swirling mass of music, laughter, and costumes. Harry tried to blend into the crowd, but his eyes kept darting toward the group of demigods across the room. His gaze specifically lingered on Nico di Angelo, who was chatting with Will Solace. Nico, in his black cowboy outfit, exuded a kind of quiet confidence that Harry couldn’t help but envy.
Every time Nico looked at Will, there was this... ease. Something Harry couldn’t quite place. A comfort, an understanding between them that seemed so effortless. Harry glanced at Draco, who was currently talking animatedly with Pansy Parkinson, though he kept sneaking glances in Harry’s direction. The blush on Harry's face deepened as he thought back to how he and Draco had arrived together. The sneaky glances, the teasing insults that didn’t quite have the same sting anymore, the warmth he felt whenever they were near each other—it was confusing. He needed advice.
Gathering his courage, Harry straightened up and made his way toward Nico. The demigod noticed him approaching, his dark eyes locking onto Harry’s with that unnerving, intense gaze.
“Hey,” Harry greeted awkwardly, tugging at his Slytherin robe collar. His heart was pounding, and he wasn’t sure if it was from the nerves or just Nico’s intimidating aura. “Can I, uh… can I talk to you for a minute?”
Nico raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised but nodded. “Sure,” he said, excusing himself from Will, who shot Harry an encouraging smile before stepping away.
Harry led Nico to a quieter corner of the hall, where the music wasn’t as loud. He shuffled his feet awkwardly, trying to find the right words.
“So, uh… you and Will… you guys… you’re together, right?”
Nico gave him a sideways glance, lips twitching into a small smile. “Yeah, we are. Why?”
Harry swallowed, feeling like his throat was drying up. “Well, I—uh—I’ve been kinda…” He trailed off, feeling like an idiot. Why had he thought asking Nico would be a good idea? The guy was terrifyingly quiet and mysterious. But he had to push through. He glanced around quickly to make sure no one else could hear. “I’ve been, uh, spending time with someone. Someone I never thought I’d be close to.”
Nico’s expression softened, his usual detached demeanor fading slightly. “I see.”
The Halloween costume ball was in full swing, the Great Hall transformed into a swirling mass of music, laughter, and costumes. Harry tried to blend into the crowd, but his eyes kept darting toward the group of demigods across the room. His gaze specifically lingered on Nico di Angelo, who was chatting with Will Solace. Nico, in his black cowboy outfit, exuded a kind of quiet confidence that Harry couldn’t help but envy.
Every time Nico looked at Will, there was this... ease. Something Harry couldn’t quite place. A comfort, an understanding between them that seemed so effortless. Harry glanced at Draco, who was currently talking animatedly with Pansy Parkinson, though he kept sneaking glances in Harry’s direction. The blush on Harry's face deepened as he thought back to how he and Draco had arrived together. The sneaky glances, the teasing insults that didn’t quite have the same sting anymore, the warmth he felt whenever they were near each other—it was confusing. He needed advice.
Gathering his courage, Harry straightened up and made his way toward Nico. The demigod noticed him approaching, his dark eyes locking onto Harry’s with that unnerving, intense gaze.
“Hey,” Harry greeted awkwardly, tugging at his Slytherin robe collar. His heart was pounding, and he wasn’t sure if it was from the nerves or just Nico’s intimidating aura. “Can I, uh… can I talk to you for a minute?”
Nico raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised but nodded. “Sure,” he said, excusing himself from Will, who shot Harry an encouraging smile before stepping away.
Harry led Nico to a quieter corner of the hall, where the music wasn’t as loud. He shuffled his feet awkwardly, trying to find the right words.
“So, uh… you and Will… you guys… you’re together, right?”
Nico gave him a sideways glance, lips twitching into a small smile. “Yeah, we are. Why?”
Harry swallowed, feeling like his throat was drying up. “Well, I—uh—I’ve been kinda…” He trailed off, feeling like an idiot. Why had he thought asking Nico would be a good idea? The guy was terrifyingly quiet and mysterious. But he had to push through. He glanced around quickly to make sure no one else could hear. “I’ve been, uh, spending time with someone. Someone I never thought I’d be close to.”
Nico’s expression softened, his usual detached demeanor fading slightly. “I see.”
Harry shuffled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, and… I don’t know how to, um, deal with it. I mean, it’s Draco Malfoy of all people. We’ve hated each other for years. And now… now it’s different. But I’m not sure if I’m imagining it or if he feels the same or if I’m just being stupid. I mean, how do you even… how do you know if someone’s—”
“Harry,” Nico interrupted gently, his voice calm but firm. “Take a breath.”
Harry blinked, realizing he had been rambling. He took a deep breath, grateful for the interruption.
Nico leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Look, it’s not easy. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when you feel something for someone, and it scares you, that’s usually a sign that it’s real.”
Harry stared at him, taking in his words.
“You’re not imagining it,” Nico continued. “Trust me, I know how confusing it can be. I used to keep everything inside, terrified of how people would react. But with Will… things just fell into place once I stopped running from it.”
Harry furrowed his brow. “But what if… what if Draco doesn’t feel the same way?”
Nico sighed, shaking his head slightly. “You won’t know unless you ask. And yeah, it’s scary. But you’ll be worse off if you spend all your time wondering ‘what if.’ You’ll never move forward.”
There was a brief pause before Nico added with a smirk, “Besides, Draco’s been looking at you all night like he wants to say something. I doubt he’s indifferent.”
Harry’s eyes widened slightly. “Wait… you think—”
Nico shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m not exactly an expert on relationships, but I do know what it looks like when someone’s into you. He’s not exactly subtle.”
Harry felt a rush of warmth flood his face, his heart beating faster at the thought that maybe—just maybe—Draco felt the same way. “But… I mean… you two,” Harry motioned vaguely between Nico and Will, “you seem like you’ve got it all figured out.”
Nico chuckled softly, surprising Harry with the sound. “Trust me, we don’t. Will's the outgoing one, and I’m… well, not. But it works because we talk about things, even when it's hard. You should do the same with Draco. You’ve been through a lot together, right?”
Harry nodded slowly, taking in Nico’s words. It was comforting to know that even someone like Nico, who always seemed so self-assured, had faced the same doubts and fears.
“Thanks, Nico,” Harry said, feeling a bit lighter than before. “I think… I think I’ll give it a shot.”
Nico nodded, his expression serious but understanding. “Just be honest with him. That’s the best thing you can do.”
Harry smiled, feeling a bit braver. “I will.”
As Harry turned to leave, Nico called out, “And hey, if he gives you any trouble, let me know. I can deal with him for you.”
Harry laughed, shaking his head. “Thanks, but I think I can handle Draco.”
Nico smirked, watching as Harry headed back toward Draco, determination in his step.
Will appeared beside Nico, nudging him playfully. “Giving relationship advice now, huh?”
Nico rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
The night air outside the Great Hall was crisp, the stars glittering in the dark sky as Draco Malfoy stepped out onto the courtyard. The sound of the Halloween ball’s music faded into the background, replaced by the quiet rustle of leaves in the wind. Draco took a deep breath, his chest tightening in a way he couldn't quite explain. He needed a moment away from the noise, from the crowd, from the intensity of it all. Especially from the fact that he’d been spending the entire evening with Harry Potter… and had enjoyed it.
He leaned against the stone railing, staring out into the darkness, his mind racing. What was he even doing? He wasn’t supposed to feel like this, not about Potter. But the way Harry looked at him tonight, the way they had been talking and laughing—it was different. It was confusing. But it also felt… right.
The sound of the door opening behind him pulled him from his thoughts. Draco turned slightly, already knowing who it was before he saw him.
“Harry,” Draco said, his voice soft but tinged with surprise. “What are you doing out here?”
Harry, wearing his Slytherin robe as if it were the most natural thing in the world, smiled sheepishly as he approached. “I saw you come out, and… well, I thought you might want some company.”
Draco raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the flutter in his chest. “You’re always too curious for your own good, Potter.”
Harry chuckled, stopping next to him by the railing. He glanced at Draco, the two of them standing side by side, the awkward tension between them thickening by the
second. For a few moments, they were silent, just listening to the faint music from the ball.
“I, uh…” Harry began, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly nervous. “I wanted to talk to you.”
Draco’s heart skipped a beat. “About what?”
Harry hesitated, his gaze shifting to the stars. “About… us. About… this.” He motioned vaguely between the two of them. “I don’t know how to explain it, but lately, things have been different. With you, I mean.”
Draco blinked, his stomach doing a nervous flip. “Different?”
“Yeah,” Harry said quietly, his green eyes meeting Draco’s. “I used to think I hated you, but now… now I don’t know what I think. And it’s confusing because I can’t stop thinking about you, and I keep wondering if you feel the same. If maybe you…” He trailed off, his face turning bright red.
Draco felt his heart pounding in his chest. He had been so sure this was all one-sided, that Harry couldn’t possibly feel anything for him. But now, hearing this…
“You’re not the only one who’s confused, Potter,” Draco admitted, his voice softer than usual. “I’ve been trying to figure it out too. And it’s been driving me mad.”
Harry’s eyes widened slightly. “So… you do feel something?”
Draco swallowed hard, his usual snarky demeanor melting away. He felt vulnerable, exposed, standing there with Harry looking at him like that. But he couldn’t deny it anymore.
“I do,” Draco said, his voice barely a whisper. “I don’t know why or how, but I do.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched on, filled with the unspoken emotions swirling between them. Harry looked down at his feet, fidgeting nervously. “So… what do we do about it?”
Draco bit his lip, his mind racing. This was it—the moment. He had to be brave for once, even if it terrified him. He straightened up and turned to face Harry fully, his pale cheeks tinged with the slightest hint of pink.
“Well,” Draco began, taking a deep breath, “I was thinking… maybe we could try something. Like… going out. You know, on a date.”
Harry blinked, staring at him in surprise. “You mean… like, a real date?”
Draco nodded, feeling a bit of the tension in his chest ease as he saw the hopeful look on Harry’s face. “Yeah, a real date. Just you and me. We could go to Hogsmeade or—” He faltered, suddenly feeling nervous again. “Only if you want to.”
Harry’s face broke into a wide, genuine smile, his eyes lighting up. “I’d like that,” he said softly. “I’d really like that.”
Draco let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, relief washing over him. He couldn’t help but smile back, a rare, genuine smile that made his face soften. “Good,” he said, his voice a bit steadier now. “Then it’s a date.”
Before either of them could say anything more, a loud rustling noise came from the bushes nearby. Both boys jumped, turning to face the noise. Harry squinted into the shadows. “What was that?”
Suddenly, there was a burst of giggling, and out tumbled Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Luna, all struggling to regain their balance after eavesdropping so obviously.
“Hermione?!” Harry exclaimed, his face flushing even more. “Ron? Were you guys… spying on us?”
Hermione was red-faced, caught between laughing and apologizing. “We didn’t mean to! We were just… uh…”
“Eavesdropping,” Ron supplied with a grin, clearly not sorry at all. “But for a good reason!”
Ginny and Luna cheered, clapping their hands in delight. “We knew something was going on!” Ginny said, elbowing Harry teasingly.
“Oh my god,” Harry groaned, burying his face in his hands, feeling utterly mortified.
Draco, surprisingly, didn’t feel as embarrassed. Instead, he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at them. “Enjoy the show, did you?”
Ron clapped Draco on the back, grinning from ear to ear. “Mate, this is great! You and Harry! Never thought I’d see the day.”
“We ship it!” Luna declared happily, twirling around. “It’s like a storybook romance!”
Harry peeked through his fingers, glaring at his friends. “You’re all unbelievable.”
Hermione just smiled warmly. “We’re happy for you, Harry. For both of you.”
Draco rolled his eyes, but there was a faint blush on his cheeks as he glanced at Harry. “You’ve got weird friends, Potter.”
Harry laughed softly, finally lowering his hands. “Yeah… but I guess they’re not so bad.”
Ron gave them a thumbs-up. “About time, if you ask me.”
As the group headed back into the ball, Ginny threw her arms around Harry and Draco in a quick hug. “You two are going to be adorable.”
Draco groaned but didn’t pull away, and Harry couldn’t help but smile, feeling lighter than he had in a long time.
They were together.
The Annabeth pov you’ve all been waiting for
Annabeth sat alone in a quiet corner of the Gryffindor common room, the soft glow of the fire casting warm shadows on the walls. The room was mostly empty, the Halloween festivities having wound down. She had retreated here for some peace and quiet, her mind still buzzing from the night’s events.
She stared into the flickering flames, her thoughts drifting back to Jason. He had been especially attentive tonight, his warmth and kindness evident in everything he did. And she couldn’t help but think he was... cute. Not just cute—there was something about him that made her heart flutter a bit. But she quickly pushed the thought aside, reminding herself that she was with Percy. Percy, who she cared about deeply.
Yet, the more she thought about it, the more confused she became. She had always thought her feelings for Percy were straightforward and clear, but now Jason’s presence seemed to stir something new within her. It wasn’t just admiration—it was more personal. It made her question if she was being disloyal, if she was doing something wrong.
She sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. “Am I... cheating on Percy?” she whispered to herself. The very thought made her stomach churn with guilt. She didn’t want to betray Percy in any way, but these new feelings for Jason were impossible to ignore.
As if summoned by her distress, an Iris message appeared before her, shimmering with the reflection of her emotions. Piper’s familiar face materialized in the misty light, her expression warm and understanding as soon as she sees annabeth's face.
“Annabeth? I felt like you might need to talk,” Piper said gently. “What’s going on?”
Annabeth looked up, surprised but relieved to see her friend. “Piper, I... I don’t know what to do. I’ve been thinking a lot about Jason. He’s... he’s cute, and I feel this... connection with him. But I’m with Percy. Am I doing something wrong?”
Piper’s eyes softened with empathy. “Annabeth, I get why you’re feeling confused. But having feelings for someone else doesn’t mean you’re cheating on Percy. It’s normal to have complicated feelings, especially when you’re dealing with so much. What matters is how you handle those feelings.”
Annabeth nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to her lap. “But it feels so unfair to Percy. I don’t want to hurt him, and I don’t want to feel like I’m being disloyal.”
Piper smiled reassuringly. “It’s not about being disloyal. It’s about understanding your feelings and being honest with yourself. It’s okay to feel attraction or affection for someone else, as long as you’re clear about your intentions and your commitment. You don’t have to act on these feelings, but acknowledging them is important.”
Annabeth considered Piper’s words, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. “So, it’s okay to have these feelings as long as I’m honest and respectful of Percy?”
“Exactly,” Piper confirmed. “It’s about how you navigate your emotions and communicate with Percy. You need to be honest with him about what’s going on. And with Jason, you should be clear about your own feelings and boundaries.”
Annabeth took a deep breath, feeling more at ease. “Thank you, Piper. I was really struggling with this, and your words helped a lot.”
Piper’s smile widened. “I’m glad I could help. Just remember, it’s okay to have feelings and to be confused. What matters is how you handle it and how you communicate with the people you care about.”
“Thanks again, Pipes,” she said softly as the image of her friend disappeared.
Of course! Here’s a scene where Percy reflects on his feelings and gets advice from Nico:
---
percy pov
Percy sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the moonlight filtering through the window. The Halloween ball had been a whirlwind of emotions, and now he found himself deep in thought. His feelings for both Annabeth and Jason were tangled in his mind, creating a bunch of confusion and uncertainty.
He thought about Annabeth, who had always been his support, his closest friend, and someone he cared for deeply. And then there was Jason, who had become an important part of his life, someone who had shown him a new side of friendship and connection. The problem was, he couldn’t sort out his feelings and was struggling with how to address them.
Percy ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of his thoughts. “How do I even begin to sort this out?” he murmured to himself. He knew he needed to talk to both Annabeth and Jason, but the idea of navigating these conversations felt overwhelming.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Percy looked up to see Nico standing there, a curious expression on his face. “Mind if I come in?” Nico asked.
“Not at all,” Percy replied, waving him inside.
Nico sat down next to Percy, noting the troubled look on his friend’s face. “You seem like you’ve got a lot on your mind. Want to talk about it?”
Percy sighed, looking down at his hands. “Yeah, actually. It’s about Annabeth and Jason.
“I…think I like them both” I don’t know how to handle my feelings for both of them. I care about Annabeth so much, but I also have these... feelings for Jason. I don’t want to hurt either of them, but I’m afraid of making things worse.”
Nico nodded thoughtfully. “That sounds really hard. It’s clear you’re struggling with how to approach this. My advice? Start by talking to Annabeth.”
Percy looked up, surprised. “Why Annabeth first?”
“Because,” Nico explained, “Annabeth is someone you’ve had a deep, long-term connection with. It’s important to be honest with her about your feelings. She deserves that respect. And once you’ve had that conversation, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you stand and what you need to do with Jason.”
Percy took a deep breath, feeling a bit more grounded. “Okay, I think you’re right. I’ll talk to Annabeth first. Thanks, Nico.”
Nico gave him a supportive smile. “No problem. It’s not easy, but being honest is the best way to handle it.”
---
Later – Outside the Common Room
Will found Nico leaning against the wall, looking thoughtful. He approached with a grin, knowing Nico had been giving out relationship advice lately. “So, you’re becoming the resident love guru now?” Will teased.
Nico raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
“Come on,” Will said, nudging him playfully. “You’ve been giving out relationship advice left and right. Percy’s already been through your office hours.”
Nico chuckled. “It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. It’s just about helping friends figure things out. Sometimes, you need a little perspective.”
Will smirked. “Well, I have to admit, I never thought of you as the relationship expert. Do you charge for these moments?”
“Very funny,” Nico replied, rolling his eyes. “I just try to help where I can. It’s not about being an expert—it’s about being there for my friends.”
Will grinned. “Well, keep it up. I guess you’ve got a knack for this kind of thing. Maybe you should put out a sign: ‘Nico di Angelo, Relationship Advice Extraordinaire.’”
Nico laughed. “I can’t help it, they’re all clueless.”