Chapter 11
As it winds up, the next time Harry has a class with any of them is two days later, in the once a week meditation class. It was first thing in the morning, and lasted about two hours. It was over seen by two medi-wixen, Madam Mirrior and Mx. Biane.
Harry had of course known that Theo, Blaise, and Draco all shared this class with him, as the class was split by year but not house, just random sixth years. But they all stuck to their particular groups of people, those three together with a few Ravenclaws, a Hufflepuff, and two other Slytherins. Harry had Dean, Seamus, and a Hufflepuff named Agni that he stuck with.
The staring, of course, continued in this class as well, but Harry often didn't notice it, distracted by whatever activity was offered for the day, or talking with his friends. A lot of the time, people used this class as a sort of studying period to work on homework or something.
That's what Harry had been planning on doing, working on make-up work and utilizing his friends' brains for help. Maybe taking occasional breaks to color. All up until about 12 minutes into class, when he was sitting with his head in a research book, and heard someone approaching him from behind.
Curious, he turned his head, only to see Theo walking towards him, an almost scarily determined look on his face as Draco and Blaise followed behind him, seemingly trying to do everything in their power to quietly stop their friend. Harry raised an eyebrow at them. Theo returned it with a grin, and as the three got closer, Harry's friends noticed and stopped talking to watch. In fact, almost the entire classroom seemed to have their eyes on the three Slytherins and Harry, watching with almost baited breath.
"Hello, Harry. Would you mind if we sat with you today?" He offered no other explanation on why they might want to (and yes, Draco and Blaise obviously did as well, otherwise they would not have followed Theo over here, as much as they tried to stop him.)
Harry shook his head, and began to clear the seats next to him, as he had spread his books and papers out over four seats while his friends took up the other four seats of the table. There was one to his left, and two across from him.
"Sure you can." He answered easily, eyes flickering up for a moment, just in time to see what seemed to be both surprise (Draco and Blaise) and hopefulness (all three) wash over them. He shrugged it off and finished stacking all of his books except Charms under the table, his papers going in a folder.
The three were quick to take a seat, Blaise next to Harry, Theo directly across from him, and Draco across from Blaise. The rest of the students slowly turned back to their own work when it became apparent that nothing all too interesting would be happening as the three got out their own work.
Harry's friends continued to eye them, Dean even nudging Harry's side with a raised eyebrow of confusion and inquiry. Harry only shrugged in response. He didn't know either, but he didn't mind. In fact, he felt quite comfortable here with them, more at ease than he could really remember being as their scents became more apparent and mixed together. It was... Soothing, and warm. Almost protective hints in the blueberry-mint-strawberry air. Why did they smell like a smoothie together?
Whatever. Not like Harry didn't like it. He wouldn't mind having that smoothie everyday. He paused, blinking. Where in the fucking world did that thought come from? Bad Harry, bad Harry. You hardly even know them!
There was several minutes of silence, not entirely awkward, but not pleasant either, while they all focused, or tried to anyway, on their work. Then Theo leaned across the table, gently tapping Harry's paper with his quill.
"Harry," his voice was quiet. Harry looked up. "Would you mind helping me with some of the homework from Transfiguration? I am unable to find the sources in the book."
Harry stared at him for a moment, a bit confused. Theo had one of the top scores in their class, and always seemed to be a few steps ahead of everyone. If Harry could figure it out, why couldn't he?
But Harry was not one to refuse people help, so he shrugged and began to shuffle his things, pulling out his own transfiguration homework (he had completed most of it already. Itheo had gone easy on the make-up work considering what had been happening.
"Sure. Whatcha need help with?" Theo grinned at Harry's answer, and turned his blank parchment towards him as he began to explain what he was stuck on. Harry leaned across the table to see easier, and the two quickly got engrossed in the quiet conversation, Harry gently guiding Theo towards the answers, and Theo quickly writing things down to revise later, voice upbeat as he responded. It was oddly cute, in a way, Harry supposes as his heart flutters strangely. In the years before now, he didn't think he had ever seen the other smile as much as he did now. But then again, Voldemort was still roaming and his parents were still Death Eaters then.
Harry could feel Blaise shifting next to him, and see Draco's eyes occasionally flit over at where Harry was leaning across the table to help Theo, but paid them no mind. At least they weren't saying anything about Theo asking the 'Golden Boy's for help. He didn't want his... Friend? Seatmate? To get in trouble with his housemates. House prejudices were a hard thing to learn on all sides, but especially for those who grew up thinking that being anything but one of the houses could get them disowned or killed. Harry knew that now, and tried not to judge too harshly when he saw harsh looks.
Luckily, it seemed as though Theo was a quick learner (he already knew that. He sat right next to the boy in class.) so it didn't take long before Harry didn't have to explain anything else to the other, and sat back in his own seat, missing the halfway teasing, mostly 'look at what I did!' grin that Theo sent to Blaise and Draco. And the subsequent playful glares he got in return.
"So Harry." Blaise spoke up several minutes later after a deep breath that Harry could feel his entire body move for. "Remember that potions project?"
Harry paused in his writing, scrunching his eyebrows as he tried to figure out what the other was talking about. He looked up, tilting his head slightly as he saw both Blaise and Draco looking at him, Theo happily writing away on his paper.
He was about to ask what he was talking about when it clicked. Oh yeah. The potions project that they were assigned two weeks ago. The one that they had to work on outside of class. That was worth half of their grade this semester, and due the day before they left for winter vacation. Which was in about five and a half weeks, that they haven't started. Fuuuuuck.
"Oh shit." Harry said. "I uh- do now?"
He winced in apology. Blaise and Draco's lips both upturn in an amused smirk. "Don't worry. You were busy."
Blaise waved it off, and Harry could feel his cheeks flush. Which was stupid, because it wasn't like they knew just exactly what he had been busy with.
"But in any case, Harry." Malfoy's smooth drawl dragged his attention to him. "Be it as it may be that we all were out, we do need to work on this project. And as it is a group project, your presence will be needed for it. Perhaps, we should set up times to meet in the library for the research part of it? And relatively soon as well, as I'm sure you are well aware of the approaching deadline, and just how long some potions can take."
Draco's refined way of speaking had always managed to tick Harry off in the past. But now it just made his stomach flutter. Was he getting ill? For real, this time? He sighed and nodded.
"Yes yes. I know. I have a free period before lunch on Friday, and then on Saturday and Sunday I'm completely free?" He offered. Both of them seemed to pause, perhaps thinking of their own schedules, before nodding.
"Yes, those times should work for use as well." Just then, the alarm to signal the next class rang, and everyone began packing up. Harry stood, putting his stuff in his bags.
"Alright. I'll see you both at the library before lunch on Friday then. See you in class Theo!" He threw back as he began to walk out of the room with his friends, ignoring the stares burning his back. Those three were so odd sometimes.
Lunch on Friday came quick, and Harry sperated from Dean and Seamus to head to the library. They had about two hours before lunch. That should be enough time to at least choose and research a potion, right?
When he got to the library, he wondered a bit, trying to figure out if Blaise and Draco were already here. He was in one of the back corners of the library, back by the windows but hidden from view by bookshelves when he found them. They were already sitting at a table, their bags laid on it.
Quietly, Harry made his way over, and just as their scents began to invade his nose, their heads popped up from where they were whispering together, looking straight at him. He gave an awkward wave as he slowly sat down in a chair across from them.
"... Hi?" He offered hesitantly when neither spoke up.
That seemed to snap them out of their one sided staring contest with Harry, and both looked away as Harry looked down, trying to figure out why they had been staring. He had loosened his toe as it had felt a bit to constricting a few hours ago, and the first two buttons of his shirt had come open. He wondered how long ago that happened. He was pretty sleepy when dressing this morning...
Eventually, both boys said hello back, and, after a moment, got up to begin wondering the library, picking out a few potions books each. Individually, they headed back to the table, and sat down, bags going to the floor as books were sat on the table. It was silent, making all the other senses more obvious. The sight of the sun reflecting off of their eyes, and hair, and skin... The way they smelled... It was distracting in a way Harry couldn't bring himself to mind.
As Harry read, he marked down potions that seemed both interesting, and easy enough to make an adaptation to. After about half an hour, he stopped researching, and started narrowing down his list to just one. The healing potion. Simple to make, but powerful too. And easy enough to upgrade in the way he was hoping to.
He waited a few more minutes, trying to make himself look busy to give the other boys some extra time before speaking up.
"So. Wanna share ideas?" Blaise and Draco both looked up and at each other, before shrugging as they turn towards him.
"Alright." "Yes." Harry nodded, and then, when neither of them said anything else, he sighed.
"Alright then, I'll go first. I was thinking of doing the Healing Potion? It's a fairly simple potion to make, as I'm sure both of you are well aware of, and because of its simplicity, it's not likely our other classmates would have chosen it. We, of course would have to ask Professor Snape to be sure though." He trailed off, wrinkling his nose, before shaking his head. "Anyway, I was thinking we could maybe upgrade it by making a sort of mix of it, the Calming Drought, and Dr. Ubbly's Oblivious Unction, to help kind of heal the minds of those who went through something traumatic. Instead of healing visible wounds, it would help wounds to the brain caused by memories and trauma, instead of by thoughts like the Oblivious Unction, and simultaneously help calm them."
He was met with slightly wide-eyed stares, before they both started slowly nodded.
"Yes, that is a good idea. Useful too... For many cases." Draco hummed, and Harry could tell that they were all thinking another war and it's surviving victims. Harry smiled, semi-sadly, at him.
"Yes." He said simply, looking back down. "So, do you two wish to share ideas, or is this one good?"
Both boys immediately shook their heads. In all reality, they were already planning on going with Harry's idea before he even said it. While the boy might not be the best at potions, he is brilliant. And they also didn't want to take the risk of upsetting the other, even if they were pretty sure Harry wouldn't get upset over them choosing another idea for a potions product.
"We'll have to wait until Tuesday to get permission from Professor Snape in order to go ahead with our project." Harry murmured, halfway to himself, though Blaise and Draco both heard of their shared looks and Blaise's smirk were any indication.
"Not necessarily." Blaise stated, lightly kicking Draco under the table, who huffed and rolled his eyes in return.
Draco sighed. "I can ask him later today, Harry. He is my godfather, in case you forgot."
Harry blinked. He had, in fact, forgotten. "Oh. Yeah. He is, isn't he? Well then, you wouldn't mind asking him today, would you?"
He stared at him, unaware that his eyes had gotten bigger, almost puppy like. Draco caved instantly, and Blaise couldn't blame him. They were weak, weak men.
"I- no. I suppose I don't. I will ask him." Harry grinned at him.
"Thanks!" He chirped out. Draco turned his head away from Harry, his face bright red. Blaise, the traitor, just smirked at him, internally laughing. Harry frowned in confusion.
"Right... Well, it is just about lunch time. Would you care to walk with me to the Dining Hall?" Harry asked, not looking at them as he started to pile books together to bring to the front desk. He could feel their stares, and when he straightened up with the load of books in his arms, he could see that they looked almost completely flabbergasted.
He frowned slightly. "Er... Is that a no? I was just asking."
"No! No, er. I mean yes." Blaise scrambled to say, as he and Draco stood and quickly gathered the rest of the books. They were oddly... Excited, Harry supposed was the word. Though excited for what he didn't know. So he just nodded and waited for them to finish before walking to the front desk, where he slipped the books into the return bin, the other two doing the same before walking out of the library.
The trek was silent, one of them on either side of him, which made him feel short, by the way, so different than usual with his friends. But it was... Nice. He didn't feel the need to fill the silence. It was odd, how comfortable he was with a past bully and someone he barely knows. But he wasn't going to question it much. Or why their scent was so attractive. It's whatever.
As the reached the doors of the Dining Hall, they realized they were some of the first there. Harry paused, and turned to look at them.
"What time you want to meet tomorrow?"
They both look down at him, seemingly contemplating.
"How about right after breakfast ends? Then we have some time before lunch." Harry nods.
"Alright. See ya then." And with that, he walks off, going slow as something in him screams at the separation. It felt almost physically painful to be separating himself from them. Maybe he had heartburn.
He sat down in his usual spot, laid his head on the table, and closed his eyes as he waited for both his friends and the food to appear. These were going to be some odd next few weeks.