Harry glanced down at his phone for what felt like the hundredth time in the last twenty minutes. He sighed at the lack of notifications from his boyfriend. His eyes flicked up to where Hermione and Ron were chatting softly on the other side of the table. Where was he?
The trio had spent all day exploring the city and taking a tour of Ilvermorny. Harry had missed them terribly, an itch under his skin he couldn’t reach. The moment their portkey arrived Hermione and Ron had latched onto him in a tight hug and he breathed easily for the first time in months.
He loved Bucky. He loved teaching. He hated being away from his two best friends.
Throughout the day the three of them were in constant contact. A hand on the shoulder. Fingers curling together as they walked. Hips bumping into the others as he pointed out landmarks. Even now under the table their feet were tangled up in each others. Small things to let the other know they were there. They were ok. They had made it.
Harry had talked about Bucky all day. About how kind he was. How wonderful. How considerate. And definitely how handsome Bucky was. He was excited to share that part of his life with the two people who he had shared everything with. He needed them to love Bucky as much as he did.
Unfortunately, his boyfriend was late to what Harry considered the most important dinner of their relationship. Ron and Hermione were the other parts of him and he could not believe that Bucky wasn’t showing up to meet them. He picked up his phone to text Bucky again when he finally heard his voice.
“Sorry I’m late. Work ran over.” Bucky hurriedly sat next to Harry and leaned over to brush a kiss against Harry’s cheek. Bucky was breathing heavily as he quickly shot his hand across the table.“You must be Ron and Hermione. I’ve heard lots about you. Nice to meet you both. Sorry again that I’m late.”
Harry’s best friends gave small but genuine smiles to Bucky as they each shook his hand.
“Don’t worry about it, mate. It happens. Harry says you do security?” Ron asked, taking a sip of his drink.
Harry listened to three of the most important people in his life chatter back and forth, chiming in occasionally. He glowed with happiness as he watched Hermione and Ron warm up to Bucky. Their faces and bodies becoming more open, more animated the longer the four of them talked. He leaned in to press his side against Bucky, something he’s done multiple times a day since they met, when Bucky stiffened and jerked away.
Hermione’s mouth snapped shut at the movement. She and Ron stilled as their eyes flicked back and forth between Harry and Bucky. Harry’s brow furrowed as he glanced at Bucky quizzically. Bucky had never, not once, pulled away from him.
Before Harry could ask Bucky what was wrong, the server arrived to take their order. Silence fell across the table once the server had walked away. Hermione’s eyes were locked on Harry’s face and he gave her a subtle shake of his head.
Ron’s jaw clenched slightly before he turned to Bucky and asked, “So Busty-“
“It’s Bucky,” Bucky gently corrected.
Ron flashed a shark like grin and raised one brow. “Isn’t that what I said?”
Bucky opened his mouth to respond but Ron cut in before he could.
“So, Bucket-”
Bucky made an offended noise in his throat.
Harry pinched his brow.
Hermione let out a snort that she quickly turned into a cough when Harry’s head shot up to glare at her. He kicked out at Ron’s leg under the table, satisfied when Ron winced and his blue eyes darted to meet Harry’s. The two best friends had a quick silent conversation.
Be nice.
Why?
He’s my boyfriend.
Who just jerked away from you faster than Fake Moody turned Malfoy into a Ferret!
Be nice or I’ll tell Molly what you did in her kitchen Christmas three years ago.
You wouldn’t.
Try me.
Fine.
Harry knew he won when Ron slumped back into his seat and Hermione rubbed his shoulder consolingly. She gave them both fond looks before zeroing in on Bucky.
“Harry told us that you grew up in Brooklyn. Has it changed much over the years?”
Bucky rubbed at the back of his neck. “Weirdly no but yes? A lot of the buildings look the same. It’s just what’s in them has changed. I can still see a lot of the Brooklyn I grew up in but…” his voice trailed off as he shrugged, his hand rubbing at his side. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back. Gotta run to the bathroom.”
He reached out and squeezed Harry’s hand before stiffly standing and walking towards the restrooms. Harry’s gaze followed Bucky and his eyes narrowed as he took in how tense the other man’s shoulders were. He started to get up to follow Bucky when Ron cleared his throat.
“Mate, are you sure about this?”
A punched out breath left Harry as he met the eyes of his best friends. The love and concern practically poured out of them. Each of them had a hand stretched out towards him on the table while they gripped each others tightly. He reached towards them and grabbed hold.
“He’s it,” He said softly, sincerely, so sure of his words. His green eyes stayed steady as the three stared at each other. The other two glanced at each other and shared their own silent conversation. One that Harry could read perfectly but stayed out of. They looked back at him and nodded.
“Alright Harry. If you say he’s it… then he’s it. But if he hurts you, not even Doctor Strange himself would be able to turn back time fast enough to save him.”
Harry grinned. Hermione was bloody scary but she was his and he wouldn’t have her any other way.
Bucky returned to the table and the three friends pulled apart. Bucky brushed his hand down Harry arm and threaded their fingers together. Harry’s smile softened as Bucky pressed a kiss to the back of his hand.
Harry knew three things for certain in this world. Hermione and Ron would never leave him. The Chudley Cannons would never win a Quidditch match. Bucky Barnes loved him.
His friends would agree with the first. Ron would argue about the second while Hermione rolled her eyes but that was okay. As long as they also realized the third was true… well two out of three ain’t bad. He just needed them to see Bucky as he saw him.
The food arrived, allowing Harry a break from trying to create a bridge between his favorite people. The two couples kept the conversation light while they enjoyed their food. Hermione and Ron caught Harry up on all the gossip from home while Harry explained to Bucky who all the people they mentioned were.
“Trust me Bucky, when you meet Molly over the summer you’ll never want to leave. Her cooking is the best thing you’ll ever taste. Better than any fine dining in all of New York.” Harry gestured with his fork at the table.
“What are you looking forward to most for your visit?” Hermione asked Bucky.
“Dragons,” he said, huffing out a small chuckle. “My ma would tell me all about them when I was real young before… well before they knew I’d never be able to use a wand. I always hoped I’d see one traveling. Saw a centaur once. Asshole shot me in the arm with an arrow.”
Surprised laughter filled the table.
“Charlie‘ll show you dragons, mate. Maybe even let you ride one. Though he may try and take Harry here for a different ride.” Ron wiggled his eyebrows.
Harry rolled his eyes at Ron’s antics while Hermione gasped.
“Merlin Harry, your type really is men who look like they’d kill you and are obsessed with dragons and women who look like they’d kill you and are obsessed with brooms.”
Bucky choked back a laugh as Harry sputtered out a defense.
“Oi! That’s lies and slander, ‘Mione.”
“Name one person, Harry James, who doesn’t meet that description.”
“I’ll have you know that I dated… shut up, Hermione Jean, I swear to Godric, I’ll shove this bread down your throat until you choke. Stop laughing at me!” Harry threw a breadstick at Hermione as they both dissolved into giggles.
Harry wiped tears from his eyes from laughing so hard as he took the check from the server, making sure to leave a generous tip for dealing with their shenanigans.
The two couples left the restaurant and wandered down the street. Harry really did not want the night to end yet, not when everyone was finally getting along.
“Oh!” He turned excitedly to Bucky, arms going around the taller man’s waist. “The club is right around-“
Bucky made a choked off noise in the back of his throat and pulled away from Harry.
“The corner…” Harry trailed off and wrapped his arms around himself. He could hear Ron and Hermione arguing in whispers behind him. Bucky made a face that Harry couldn’t interpret.
He turned to his friends. “Wanna go dancing?” He asked brightly, putting on a wide smile to mask the pit of dread curling in his stomach at the way Bucky was flashing hot and cold throughout the night.
The other couple hesitated and Harry gave them a pleading look. He let out a cheer when they agreed. Turning to look over his shoulder at Bucky he called out, “You coming?”
Bucky’s face went through several emotions landing on a grimace.
“I dunno if that’s the best idea, babydoll.”
Harry held up his hand to his friends and marched over to Bucky. He stood as close as he could without actually touching the other man.
“Are you kidding me? What in the world is going on with you? You can’t spend a few hours with my best friends in the whole world?”
“It’s been a real long day, honey.” Bucky gritted out between clenched teeth.
Harry took a step back. Hurt radiating his entire body.
“I met the entire group of your friends, your family, at once. I had to deal with Steve Fucking Rogers. And you can’t… what the fuck, James?”
Bucky let out a pained whine at that.
“Ah c’mon, doll. Not the first name treatment.” He reached out a hand to cup Harry’s face. “Is it really that important to you that I come?”
“Yes,” Harry said simply, his arms crossed, a small pout beginning to form on his face.
Bucky brushed a thumb across Harry’s bottom lip. “Then I’m there. C’mon.” He gestured in the direction of their favorite club.
The walk to the dance club was quiet. Guilt and hurt rolled in Harry’s stomach. He thought Bucky understood how much his friends meant to him. How they were extensions of himself in a way. It felt like a rejection of Harry when Bucky didn’t want to get to know them.
He tried to shake off the cloud hanging over his head as he approached the door to the club, not bothering with the line.
“Mark! Hey mate, brought a few friends if that’s alright?” Harry shook the bouncers hand.
“‘Arry ! Any friends of yours are friends of mine!” Mark the bouncer pulled Harry into a tight hug and pounded him on the back. “Go on in! But hey it’s a live wire in there, you be careful and come get me if you needs a’ight?”
Walking into the club, Harry thought of the first time he met Bucky. He flashed a grin in the other man’s direction and started to pull him towards the dance floor.
“C’mon love, let’s dance!”
Harry was stopped abruptly when Bucky stood in one place.
“Um, Doll I’m not up for dancing right now. I’m gonna head to the bar and grab a drink.”
Harry opened his mouth to snap at Bucky because what the fuck when he decided he was over it. Bucky didn’t have to dance with him. He’d dance with his friends.
“Fine.” Harry didn’t spare Bucky a glance as he grabbed Hermione and Ron’s hands and pulled them on the dance floor.
“Everything ok, mate?”
“Yep.”
“Harry…”
“Please, can we just dance.”
His friends dropped the conversation and surrounded him. Moving together smoothly, without thought, the three twirled in and out, around the others. Years of training and battling together caused them to have an almost supernatural knowledge of when the others would dip, sway, and move.
They attracted other dancers attention when picked Hermione up and did a complicated move, swinging her around his body and flipping her behind him, knowing Harry would be there to catch her. Harry gripped Hermione’s thighs, her legs circling his waist, her body bent backwards towards the floor, before she rolled herself back up, arms twisting around his neck with a laugh.
The crowd cheered and Harry barked out a bright laugh.
Hermione rested her forehead against Harry’s. “I love you, Harry James.”
Tears prickled at his eyes. “I love you, Hermione Jean.”
Ron cuddled up behind Hermione, wrapping his arms around them both. He laid a kiss against Hermione’s neck. “You know this is why everyone thought we were in a threesome, right?”
Harry let out a shuddering laugh as Hermione rested her head back against Ron’s shoulder. All three still moving to the music as they enjoyed their little bubble. Hermione’s feet touched the floor and Harry’s eyes met Bucky’s across the club.
He could see the look of pained longing on his face and gestured for Bucky to join them. Bucky shook his head and took a sip of his drink, his eyes flitting away. Harry watched as some guy approached and began talking to his boyfriend. He huffed and turned his back to the scene.
Harry lost himself in the music and his friends resolving to tackle whatever crawled up Bucky’s arse later. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed but he was drenched in sweat and Hermione’s hair was reminiscent of their first years at Hogwarts. Ron looked unaffected. The berk.
Arms wrapped around Harry from behind. He tensed. He knew they didn’t belong to any of the people he loved. He shifted to pull away, hands pulling the arms off of him but the arms tightened.
“I’ve been watching you all night, sweetling.” The words were breathed heavily into his ear. Harry jerked his head away.
“I’m not interested. Let go.”
Harry looked to his friends but they had somehow become separated by the crowd. He could see them fighting to get back to him, both of their faces pinched with concern.
“Don’t be like that. I just wanna dance. Maybe take you back to mine.” One hand started to move slowly down Harry’s torso and Harry saw red.
“I fucking said let go!” Harry stomped on the guys foot and shoved his elbow back as hard as he could.
“What the fuck!” The guy coughed out.
Harry finally got a look at the guy. He was tall and thin with slicked back mousy brown hair.
“Don’t touch me again.” Harry turned to make his way back to his friends when he felt a fist in his hair yanking him back.
“Where you think you’re goin’, huh?” The man hissed in Harry’s ear. “You’ve been dancing like a whore all night and now you got the attention you’ve been begging for and what? You’re too good for me? Why don’t you come with me to the bathroom so I can show you a good time?”
The fist in Harry’s hair tightened as the man tried to pull Harry off the dance floor.
Harry could hear Ron and Hermione’s panicked cries for him as they struggled to get through the throngs of people. He took a deep breath. He really tried to avoid using magic in public place but this guy was pushing him past the point of no return.
He reached back to grip the man’s wrist, intent on casting a mild wandless stunner when his fingers touched metal.
“I suggest you let go right now before I break your wrist.” Bucky growled.
Harry fought against the hand in his hair to turn enough to see the pissed off face of his boyfriend.
The other man scoffed. Which Harry momentarily thought was brave of him even if it was an incredibly stupid response.
“You can have him when I’m done.” The man sneered.
“Wrong answer.”
The man screamed and Harry was free. He stumbled forward and barely caught himself from tumbling to the floor. Hermione and Ron finally reached him as the sounds of Bucky and the asshole fighting filled the dance floor.
His friends ran their hands over him checking to make sure he wasn’t injured. The three turned their attention to the fight.
“Mate, I thought he was some super soldier. I figured that guy’d be dead.” Ron let out a whistle as he watched.
Harry rubbed the back of his head. “He’s holding back. See how he’s using his regular arm and not the metal one? He can lift a car with the metal arm. He’s just toying with this guy.”
Harry saw Mark making his way over to break it up when the guy who attacked Harry punched Bucky directly into his side. Bucky went white then red and he lifted the man up by his throat and threw him across the room.
Mark paused. He gave Bucky a look that was both exasperated and pleased before switching directions to where the man landed.
Bucky clutched at his side as he turned to Harry. “You okay, honey?” His voice was hoarse.
“I’m fine, love.” Harry ran to Bucky. He knew it took a lot to injure his boyfriend but he couldn’t help himself from running his hands over him, much like his friends had just done to him.
His hand brushed Bucky’s side and came away red. Bucky hissed in a breath and stumbled back.
“What the fuck? Did that dick stab you?” Harry screeched.
“Hmm? Oh no, he just punched me.” Bucky was almost panting.
“Then why the fuck are you bleeding?” Harry held up his hand to show Bucky the blood on his fingers.
Bucky’s eyes darted away and he didn’t answer.
“James Buchanan Barnes. Why. Are. You. Bleeding?!” Harry spat out the words between clenched teeth.
“I’m fine.”
“Obviously.” Harry drawled sarcastically.
The two partners stared at each other in a silent contest of wills. Harry raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, foot tapping as he waited for Bucky to explain. Bucky dragged his hand down his face before giving in.
“Got in the way of the asshole husband trying to take out his soon to be ex wife and daughter. It’s why I was late. Tony bandaged me up.”
Harry took a breath. And then another. He felt Hermione’s hand lightly on his shoulder.
“Why didn’t you just say something?”
“I didn’t want to mess up the night.” Bucky shrugged.
“You didn’t- you didn’t want to mess up the night?!” Harry threw his hands up before stalking away to the bar. He ordered a drink and drummed his fingers in the bar top as he waited. Once it was in front of him he threw it back, barely tasting it.
He turned, knowing the other three had followed him. “You’re the kind of person that would hide a zombie bite, aren’t you?” His voice dripped with disgust. There goes his zombie apocalypse plan.
“What?” Bucky asked with a choked laugh.
“What part of I have magic and I healed Rhodey’s broken back with said magic says to you ‘Don’t tell my boyfriend I have a gaping wound he can fix in seconds’?”
“Ew. Don’t say ‘gaping wound’, Harry, it’s gross.” Hermione wrinkled her nose.
He ignored her.
“You have been pulling away from me all night. Hurting my feelings and causing my friends to think I made all your good qualities up in my head. Because of what? Pride?”
Bucky stood with his hands on his hips, blood still seeping out to stain his shirt. “I just wanted you to have a good time and not worry about me.”
“Literally my job as your boyfriend.”
Bucky sighed. “It’s not your job to heal every little injury, babydoll.”
Harry wanted to shake him. And then kiss his stupid face.
“I love you. But I’m not exactly happy with you at the moment. Let me see.”
Bucky pulled the bandages off as he pulled his shirt up and Harry heard both of his friends choke. Whether it was the stab wound or the abs he wasn’t sure. Probably the abs. They had seen plenty of wounds over the years.
“I have half a mind not to heal you,” Harry whispered lowly even as he pressed a hand to the wound.
“Mean,” Bucky kissed the top of Harry’s head as he felt the magic knit his skin back together. “I am sorry, pet. I ruined the night.”
Harry leaned into his boyfriend, head resting on his chest. “Little bit, yeah.”
Bucky ran his hand up and down Harry’s back as he looked over apologetically at Harry’s friends.
Ron and Hermione both had tears in their eyes as they watched the scene unfold in front of them. Brown and blue eyes locked onto Harry. They watched as Harry melted into Bucky, the tension completely leaving his body. The two flicked their eyes up in unison to search Bucky’s face. They seemed to find what they were looking for as blinding smiles crashed over their faces.
They approached softly, exchanging glances.
“You get one more chance.” Hermione said harshly.
“If you hurt him, not only will they not find your body, there won’t be any evidence you ever existed.” Ron said gently.
Bucky nodded while Harry was flooded with love at his friends’ acceptance.
Harry knew four things for certain in this world. Hermione and Ron would never leave him. The Chudley Cannons would never win a quidditch match. Bucky Barnes loved him. Bucky Barnes was sometimes an idiot and Harry definitely wouldn’t be including him in his zombie apocalypse plan.