Valentine's Chaos
Spoons was awoken by Pansy & Alex on the day of their Hogsmeade/ birthday trip who dragged them downstairs with the boys already down with gifts for them (& the lovebirds had something for each other). They watched eagerly as they opened it before going on their usual birthday routine for their friend (& at night they decided to go out as animals for extra fun) but at the moment they focused on Hogsmeade where they visited all of the shops & went to their favorite cafe for some food. Despite the fact every couple of kissing in the room, they didn;t feel awkward as a group & shared cakes easily. Lukas even perked up & fed Draco a treacle tart by shoving it in his mouth making him snort.
The sound of the rain pattered outside bit it was warm & welcoming in the cafe & Spoons eagerly spoke about having another gingerbeer which Jack & Alex agreed to as they had such a sweet tooth. So did Draco but he was currently being force fed by Lukas who's boyfriend had went up to get more tea with Pansy.
"Do you think we should get pets of our animagus forms?" Alex asked, "Like the baby version? Do you imagine how cute it would be for Lukas to carry a kitten in his cat form by the scruff of the neck?"
Draco grinned, "As if he can't get anymore motherly."
He squawked, "Someone has to! Besides, what does that make you dadd-"
Blaise sat down & covered his mouth, "Not doing that," he teased, "So did you all hear that Greengrass broke up with Nott?"
"No way, how?" Alex said, leaning in.
"Well, according to her. He isn't exactly doing much romance wise. Just using her like a trophy. So, she said, she's had enough & broke up with him," he said, nudging Pansy, "Told you & her sister all about it, didn't she?"
She grinned, "& I say good riddance. She is away too good for him."
"I think any is too good for that guy."
Pansy smirked, "Maybe we can get her & Spoons to..."
They blushed, "Meep."
They laugh good heartedly before they heard a whining & tearful voice ring out the cafe making them all whip their heads around to see Harry & Cho Chang. The boy who lived wanted to be anywhere but there as the girl seemed to be sobbing.
"What the--"
"I thought you'd want to talk about it! I thought you'd understand!" she screeched, making the animagi cringe at the pitch before she rushed out the cafe with him follow her but he seemed to lose her, instantly, coming back inside to grab his coat.
Draco sighed & stood up, following him out & jogged to keep up with him.
"Harry!"
He turned, "Oh hey... Sorry. I don't know what that was about."
"Me neither... I assumed that was a date or something."
He nodded his soaked head, "Yeah. So do I. I'm going to head to the 3 Broomsticks if you want to..."
"I'll be there soon. I need to finish my tea. I won't be long. I'm sorry she's like that."
"It's fine... Thank you."
"I--"
"Draco," Alex said, rushing over, "Just go with Harry the now," she said, handing him his coat, "We won't be long but Lukas already drank your tea. So, go save us a seat."
"Oh. Okay."
She jogged away & he turned to Harry with a shrug.
Together they walked side by side towards the 3 Broomsticks in a comfortable silence until they got to the door which Harry had turned stopping him. He opened his mouth to say something & close it soon after. Instead he offered him a smile then took his hand to pull him inside to where he noticed Luna, Hermione & Rita Skeeter who noticed their hands, then smiled mischievously. Draco moved away from Harry instantly & looked between all three confused.
"What is all this about?" Harry asked, before sitting down.
"I'll go find my friends a booth--"
"Stay. For now," he said, offering Draco the seat next to him, "Shouldn't take too long, right?"
Hermione nodded which made Draco sit down nervously like it was some weird interview with him.
"So?"
"Little Miss Perfect was about to explain to us," Rita sneered.
"Right, well. I figured that with all of the negative press about Harry, he should have a chance to defend himself," she began, then paused shooting a meaningful glance at her friend, "All of the details. What happened last summer. The truth about Sirius Black & Voldemort. Not to mention all the names of all the Death Eaters on the loose."
The woman leaned over the table, "The Prophet will never publish that. Goes against the public mood."
"Well, it doesn't matter. We've found another publisher for the article."
"Who?"
Luna finally turned away from the window, "My father. He is the editor of the Quibbler."
Rita laughed, unkindly, enough to make Draco glare as she turned to Hermione, "The Quibbler? You think people will take Harry Potter seriously if he is published in the Quibbler? It's nothing but a conspiracy theory, cock & bull story tabloid."
"I wouldn't worry about that if I were you," Draco said, eyes murderous, "You just worry your pretty little head on writing it & we focus on the rest. I mean, that is all you are good for, right? Cock & bull?"
"& it is true that some will not believe, Harry," Hermione added, as Harry smiled at Draco, "But, every person we do convince is one more ally."
Rita then shrugged & pulled out her writing supplies getting ready for the interview.
"So, Harry. Ready to tell the public the truth?"
"Yeah, I guess so," Harry said, feeling for Draco's hand under the table & squeezed it for his own comfort, "Lay it on me."
Hermione sipped her drink & smirked, "Fire away, Rita."
Draco reminded himself to buy Hermione a drink at some point because he thought she was pretty badass.
On their way back to their castle, Draco felt bad that Harry's valentine was spent on Cho freaking out & an interview with Rita Skeeter, so after getting permission from his friends, he dragged Harry into an alcove with a request.
"Meet me outside Hagrid's hut after 12... Bring your cloak."
He didn't let him say anything before jogging off. By the time, he & his friends had arrived in the forest it was still showering down which they didn't care despite only wearing loose fitted clothes & no shoes. Draco waited for Harry & once he noticed him removed his cloak, he waved him over who looked at the blond concerned at the dolphin shorts & tank top as his only clothing.
"You'll get a cold," Harry hissed, getting ready to take off his jacket.
"No. No. No. I'm fine. Come on!" he said, eagerly, dragging him more into the forest like a little kid like first year didn't happen.
They ended up in a clearing that was slightly shielded from the rain where Draco's friends stood in similar attire. Grey eyes sparkled at them smiling at Harry & he looked around confused.
"You will join us tonight," Lukas said, then without a warning shifted into a cat making him gape.
"Woah," he breathed, as then one by one Draco's friends changed into their animagus form.
He finally turned to Draco who smiled at him, "You can sleep in our dorm again. But, let's be free!"
With that, he shifted into a thestral & Harry reached out to touch his muzzle.
"Wicked," he said, grinning.