Hogsmeade
Falling leaves and clouded skies were now painting Hogwarts’ grounds. November had come coolly and coldly for the castle’s population. Sweaters and scarves had only begun to parade in ghostly corridors and freezing courtyards.
As for Harry, he was feeling himself falling deeper and deeper in that tortuous, yet ardent sentiment. How could he not when everything Theo did silently, showed his marvelous character even more. It seemed everyday was cause of reverence (and a bit of drooling, if Harry was honest).
The unyielding way he continuously tutored Ron each weekend, despite the redhead’s lamentations or nagging. The quiet habit he had to attentively listen to Hermione’s rants and ingeniously challenge her ideas. The gentle touch and comforting smiles he always reserved for Draco. But more importantly, it was his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes, that could pierce through every barrier without crossing any boundaries, could reflect every shade of emotions without ever overflowing.
It made Harry feel seen and understood in a whole new way. In a silent and complete way. It felt real.
But, as much as this realization sounded terrific, it wasn’t really helping the boy in his romantic quest. He had called it (in his own mind, of course) The Successfully Asking Out Theo Crusade. Apparently, success had decided to abandon him, seeing as Harry couldn’t, for the life of him, manage to get out the words you , me , date and Hogsmeade . He had tried all week, put his best efforts into actually formulating the syllables, but each time his mouth came up empty, his throat dry and his brain blank.
So, he was left looking like a fool, gaping and uttering absolute nonsense. At least, it provided some sort of entertainment for their friends, which greatly delighted Ron and Draco every time it happened. Ordinarily, it was rare to see the nonchalant Gryffindor so dumbstruck. And of course Theo, the oblivious idiot, was just concerned about his mental state. Which was… fair.
However, today was different. Today was the day. Harry didn’t have any other choice anyhow, because it was Friday evening. So either he stopped postponing the fated question and finally acted like a bloody Gryffindor, or tomorrow there'll be no date at all. And he would spend his afternoon wallowing in his misery.
“I can do it. What’s the worst thing that could happen?” Harry whispered to himself, trying to find a crumb of courage, somewhere in his mournful face reflected in the bathroom’s mirror. He swore his reflection was sneering at him.
“Why do you look like you want to beat yourself up? Literally.”
“Theo!” Harry jumped, his voice squeaking. If it wasn’t a sign from the universe… The nervous boy crossed eyes with his roommate in the mirror, fingers harshly gripping the sink’s rims. He was gonna do it.
The Slytherin boy was already in pajamas, arms crossed and leaning against the doorway. He was inspecting him, a frown on his beautiful face.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry. Hang on! - Harry quickly raised his hand to stop Theo from interjecting - I wanted to ask you a… question.”
That made the wizard furrow his brows even more. “Well, what is it?”
Harry swallowed with difficulty. Here we go , he thought, it’s now or never . “I was wondering if you wanted to go with me to Hogsmeade tomorrow?”
Wow, no stutter or inarticulate mumbling. He did it. He fucking did it! Harry’s throbbing heart was pounding in his ears. He was still staring at Theo’s face in the mirror, but he wasn’t really seeing it. Instead, his vision was hazy, his respiration labored, his head dizzy. That’s why, when everything stopped spinning, he blinked and shakily said:
“Sorry, I didn’t hear. What did you answer?”
Theo scrutinized him, a bit perplexed. The concerned look hadn’t disappeared, rather intensified.
“I answered yes. You’re sure you’re okay?”
He… He said… YES? Harry’s grip on the sink suddenly faltered, as his knees wobbled. Every shred of tension, stress and fear that had consumed him the whole damn week simply evaporated. It was like a heavy burden had been relieved from his shoulders and he could finally breathe. Regaining a bit of awareness, he tuned in just in time to hear Theo’s following words.
“... look fine. I think you should go to sleep, rest a little, especially if you wish to be in good shape for tomorrow. Anyway, I’m going to ask Draco if he wants to join us. I think he needs a new quill and some weird green ink.”
Before Harry could protest and clarify the situation, Theo had already walked out the door, leaving a desperate and nearly sobbing boy in their bathroom. Harry banged his forehead against the sink’s rim and groaned. Why? How could someone be this oblivious? Why was he even trying? Cause you’re a masochist in love, a little voice was cruelly taunting him.
Hell, he should have said date. Why didn’t he say date, for god’s sake? Harry banged his head once again and winced at the pain. Now, he was going to hide miserably under his bed cover and lament his pathetic self, thank you very much.
Draco was intently analyzing the chessboard, while Ron looked around, absent-minded. They were in the common room, sat at their favorite table, hunched over a particularly complex game of chess. They were already well past the lateness of the hour, but it wasn’t an unusual situation for the two eighth years. Besides, they had no classes in the morning, so no cause of worry.
“You shouldn’t have played your rook.” Draco’s voice interrupted Ron’s quiet contemplation. The redhead abruptly came back to reality, scoffing.
“Why is that?”
“Well, I’m not gonna tell you, am I?” A devious smirk leisurely expanded on the blond’s face. All expression of concentration had vanished, letting the familiar playful banter take over.
“Pff, stop bullshitting me. We’re not playing poker here.” Ron huffed, crossing his arms. It was his turn to play, so he casually advanced one of his pawns on the board. His apparent indifference was part of his strategy.
“We should do that sometimes.” Draco suggested, while countering his move, totally unconcerned.
“Nop, I have bad memories.” Then, the redhead grinned broadly. “Thanks for the knight.”
His opponent waved one hand around with insouciance, as the other scratched his jaw. “Tss, all part of my masterplan. Bad memories?”
“Yes,” Ron nodded, grimacing fondly. “Because of Hermione. She doesn’t look like it, but she can really destroy you at poker. Last time, Harry and I got fleeced real bad.”
Draco chuckled, gray eyes sparkling with interest. “Intriguing…”
“Why does that sound like a “I’m going to try” kind of intriguing?”
“Focus on the game.” The graceful boy changed the subject, snapping his fingers.
“I don’t need it.” Ron proclaimed with all the self assurance he possessed (which was a lot, because he had become a pretty collected man). If he weren’t actually talented at chess, it would have been perceived as cocky. However, his skill was renowned, so nobody could refute the statement. Not that anyone wanted to try, the guy was built like a tank.
“You’re quite the confident man, Weasley.”
“Well, I’m not the one who lost the last three games, Malfoy.”
“It was because I was distracted!” Draco’s exclamation of indignation made his friend laugh loudly. “I had a bloody Transfiguration essay to write, you moron!”
It was funny to see Draco Malfaoy so outraged for something so futile. His flushed cheeks and disheveled hair were miles away from the perfect poised haughty Slytherin they all knew (and disliked).
“Yeah, yeah, pretty convenient excuse. But if it’s what makes you sleep at night, Blondie, go ahead.” Ron shrugged, a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. Oh, teasing Draco was becoming one of his dearest pastimes.
The wizard groaned, glaring at his friend. “Merlin, I hate that nickname.”
“That’s the precise reason I particularly enjoy using it.”
Rolling his eyes, Draco returned to their game, intent on winning tonight. He made a few calculations in his mind, then hummed as he moved the next piece. A sudden thought popped up in his brain.
“By the way, do you want to join us tomorrow afternoon? Harry, Theo and I are going to Hogsmeade.”
Ron immediately raised his brows, attention caught.
“I’m offended you didn’t count me in in the first place!” He joked, as he played his turn. “Plus, I’m not going to miss another moment of Harry’s suffering.”
“I must say, it’s a very healthy source of entertainment.”
“That it is! But in all seriousness, I’m wondering if Theo is actually oblivious or just ignores Harry’s attempts as a kind way to let him down easily.”
That was a real interrogation on which Ron himself was uncertain. On one hand, it was amusing to watch his best friend’s endeavor at being a teenager in love, but on the other hand, he didn’t want him to end up hurt. Harry had already gone through so much pain and heartache, romantic love shouldn’t be added to the list. So, if Theo wasn’t interested in his friend in that sort of way, Ron would have to make sure Harry saw it for what it was, before it wrecked him completely.
Draco sighed at the redhead’s justified concerns. After a beat of silence, where the two held their gaze, all pretenses to play forgotten, he carefully explained.
“Oh no, Theo truly is like that. It’s a lot more complicated than simple obliviousness, a lot more deep-rooted too. You see, he feels a tremendous amount of emotions, but at the same time he doesn’t understand, nor know how to deal with them.”
Ron nodded, pensive. Harry had been like that during their first year, not expressing his feelings until they just exploded. It hadn’t been his fault, solely because of the way he had grown up. Guess it was the same for Theo.
“I remember in our fifth year, a girl tried to ask him out with a note. The idiot thought it wasn’t for him and gave it to Blaise. And I will not even talk about the Adrian Pucey debacle.”
“The Adrian Pucey debacle? As in the Quidditch player Adrian Pucey?” His roommate asked, incredulous. But no answer came, for Draco jumped forward, surprising him, and shouted, euphoric.
“Checkmate! I win! See, it was because of the Transfiguration essay.”
That made Ron stifle a laugh. What a stubborn prat (affectionately, of course).
“Good game, mate.” He congratulated him, shaking hands. “But I’m challenging you to a rematch to verify that theory.”
“I accept the duel. We’ll do that tomorrow night, cause I’m so tired, I’m barely able to keep my eyes open.” A yawn escaped Draco’s mouth as tangible proof. He smiled sheepishly and got up. “Good night, Ron.”
“Night, Drac’.”
As he followed the leaving silhouette with his eyes, the redhead pondered on their previous discussion. It was undoubtedly food for thoughts. Thoughts he wasn’t gonna explore tonight. Nop, cogitating in the evening always resulted with aching in the morning. And no, he wasn’t going to specify what or where.
He raised from his seat and noticed a crumpled figure in the corner of the room. Honestly, what did he expect? Ron silently summoned something in his hand, then headed towards the barely human form, careful to make no noises.
“What is Miss Head Girl Hermione Granger up to tonight?”
He perched his chin on her shoulder, certain to annoy her by doing so. He was almost bent in half, but the result was worth it. She jolted and turned her head around, glaring.
“None of your business.” Hermione retorted, scowling and puffing. Yep, she definitely was annoyed. Mission completed! She pushed him aside, exasperated.
“Wow, I’m hurt!” He faked a pout, putting a shocked hand on his chest. “That’s what I get for being nice? You’re a mean witch, Mione.”
“And you’re an overdramatic wizard, Ron.” She purred sardonically.
“I took classes from Harry.”
That caused her to involuntary snort, her expression mixed between irritation and amusement. Hermione put the quill down on her desk, knowing that her danger of a best friend wasn’t going to go away without obtaining whatever he came for.
“What do you want anyway?” She asked, a little more sharply than she intended. She quickly mumbled an apology and took a deep breath. Be sociable, Hermione.
Unbothered by her turmoil (he was used to it by now), Ron resumed. “Well, I brought you a cup of tea and a question - he handed her the fuming cup he had hidden behind his back - Also, no, I didn’t ask any house-elves to prepare it. I did it by my own poor old self. With magic.”
Hermione looked at him, pleased, and a genuine smile lighted up her sour face. “Aw, thanks, I needed one. Now, shoot.”
“Are you coming with us to Hogsmeade tomorrow afternoon?”
“Yes, I need to buy some new scrolls, and perhaps some sweets for Crookshanks. Besides, someone needs to make sure you’ll behave.” She stated, scarcely concealing the threat behind the good-natured words.
“Awesome! The whole crew will be there.” He bounced on his feet from excitement, like a four year old. “I’m going to bed, don’t stay up too late.” Ron gestured at her dazed state, only to be confronted by an unimpressed stare. He chuckled. “At least I tried.”
He was walking in the direction of his dorm, yawning and stretching his arms, when Hermione’s voice halted his steps.
“Wait Ron - he turned his face to the side, scrunching up his nose - You really are a nice friend. Like what you just did for Draco.”
“What did I do?”
Hermione huffed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t play dumb. You let him win.”
Ron’s eyebrows shop up in astonishment. “How the hell did you know? You were focused on your books and homeworks all evening.”
“Because I know you, Ronald Weasley. If you really had lost that game, this wouldn’t be your reaction.”
“Hum. That’s… accurate.” He sighed and scratched his neck, an obvious sign he was feeling embarrassed, in a bashful kind of way. “Please, don’t tell him.” He pleaded in a muffled voice. “We both know how much he values his… pride.”
Hermione bowed her chin in agreement, observing him shuffling away. Tenderness swelled in her chest. Ron was such a kind-hearted person, but always seemed to be insecure about it, not wanting to be thanked for a considerate action. In addition, with a boy suffering from severe PTSD, another overanxious and emotionally stunted, and a final one with a blaming-myself-for-everything mentality, their gang really was a psychiatrist’s dream (or nightmare, depending on the perception).
“What am I going to do with them ”
The morning passed by rapidly, as well as lunch. Soon, the five students were gathered in the main courtyard of the castle, shivering from the cold. They had decided to go to the village on foot, but now they greatly regretted it. However, neither Ron’s complaints nor Theo’s sneezes changed their minds, as they bravely embarked on the long path to Hogsmeade.
Huddled together to protect themselves against the glacial wind, they looked like a poor herd of penguins. Above their heads, the sky had put on a gray sweater, barely letting rays of sunshine through the knots. When they finally arrived, a short hour after their departure, the five young adults rushed into the first shop they saw, blowing on their frozen fingers. Luckily, it was Honeydukes.
There weren't many people in the sweet shop. The chime of a bell signaled their presence. Already, Ron was dragging Harry and Draco towards the shelves full of wonders. As for Theo and Hermione, they were quietly discussing theoretical Charms, strolling around the mountains of candies. Each quickly selected a favorite handful of varied sweets. For example, Ron and Harry were leaning more towards chocolate, whereas both Hermione and Draco preferred liquorice.
However, Theo felt a bit lost, faced with an enormous diversity he never delved into before. The look of horror on the two Gryffindor’s faces when he told them he never tasted a Chocolate Frog was enough to convince him it wasn’t normal. After this heart-wrenching confession, Ron and Harry raided the entire shop, emptying the shelves with excessive enthusiasm. Harry even paid for the ten-year stock of candy, despite Theo’s best protestations. He claimed it was his duty (and if it impressed his crush, well it was all for the better).
Then, they left Honeydukes, the thrill of happiness warming them, as the group wandered along Hogsmeade’s busy streets. They made a few other stops to buy school material or new clothes, before entering a very special shop, which had only just opened its doors last week. Even so, the crowd at the facade was thick and boisterous.
“I didn’t think your brothers could become even more popular, Ron.” Hermione commented, startled by the cacophony.
“Yes, George wrote to me in his last letter that their turnover is only growing exponentially since the end of the war.” The redhead told them proudly, beaming.
“And it’s still increasing.” A voice at their right added. They all turned around at the same time to see two identical mops of flaming hair, dressed in the same suit, standing right there.
“George! Fred!” The three Gryffindors greeted them cheerfully. Draco and Theo stayed in the background, while quick hugs and pleasantries were exchanged.
Theo tuned out the rest of the conversation, engrossed by the curious decor. It was… magical indeed, pun intended. The store was built like a gigantic tower, of which you couldn’t even see the ceiling. Spiraling stairs adorned each side, leading to mysterious and colorful floors. Scintillating objects were floating above them, traveling at their own speed. Some bright banners and eccentric signs were indicating every section, in which you could find your good fortune. Magical objects were displayed everywhere, surrounded by ecstatic wizards and witches of all ages. You couldn’t look away from this fascinating chaos.
“And who’s the pretty boy?”
The sly voice, directed at him, brought Theo back to the people in front of him. He immediately noticed that Hermione and Draco had sauntered away, leaving him with four boys staring at him. The guy who had addressed him, one of the twins, was inspecting his face, devilish grin and mischievous eyes.
He was tall, a lot taller than Theo’s already giant friends. Were all Weasley ginormous people? It really made him feel minuscule. He also had the same red hair as his brothers, but in a more flamboyant shade. Freckles were harmoniously scattered on his snowy skin. God, he was wickedly handsome.
Hold on, what? His cheeks reddened and panic started to tighten his throat. What was he thinking?
“Hum… Hi? I-I’m Theo. Theo Nott.” He stammered, intimidated and flustered. It only made the redhead’s smile widen. Why was Theo finding that weirdly attractive?
Fred, because it was in fact him, stepped closer to the awkward boy, towering him. “Well, darling, anything you want here is on me.” His voice dropped lower. “And I insist on anything and me.”
The double-entendre rendered the three students speechless. Theo wanted to sink into the ground, while Ron and Harry were simply frozen, paralyzed by stupor.
“Fred, stop flirting with our customers, please.” George sighed, as he was helping a witch to find the right direction.
“But when they look like that, how do you expect me not to?” His twin pouted, winking at the immobile and blushing figure.
The frenzied glance Theo threw in Harry’s way seemed to wake him up, because he rapidly put himself in front of the boy, hiding him from the rest of the group.
“Hey, Theo, could you perhaps go monitor these two brats before they murder each other?” Harry softly whispered to him, pushing him gently towards Hermione and Draco, who were indeed bickering, a few steps further. Theo nodded silently and almost raced to them.
“And you, stop it!” Harry sternly warned the smirking redhead, swatting him lightly.
“Oh… Does the Savior of our mighty Wizarding World have a crush?”
“More than a crush, if you want my opinion.” Ron chipped in, seemingly rising from the dead. The traitor looked thoroughly entertained, almost smug.
“We don’t.” Harry groaned, rubbing his neck wearily.
“But we do!” Fred insisted. “Do we not, Georgie?”
His twin turned around and cocked his head to the side, interested. “I must say, I’m hooked now. Ron, care to explain how it happened?”
“Ron, shut your stupid mouth!” Harry yelped, glaring at his best friend who completely ignored him.
“Well, it’s pretty simple : he’s been lovestruck since the first day of the school year. I had to watch and hear him gush all day long these past two months. Disgusting.”
“Fully understandable with such a pretty view.” Fred opined, nodding and gazing at Theo’s silhouette, busy trying to break apart two fuming bodies.
“Back off!” Harry growled, diverting his glare on the other redhead.
“Ooooh, already possessive, aren’t we?” George teased him, ruthless, while Ron couldn’t contain his laugh anymore.
Harry huffed and shook his head. “You know what, I give up. Mock me all you want, I’m leaving.”
“Yeah, go join the love of your life!”
“I hate you.” He simply replied, walking away.
“Feeling shared.” Fred shouted, while his twin carried on. “We’ll wear mauve for the wedding, just so you know.”
Harry’s finger was the only response. Pretty efficient.
“You’re both a menace to society.” Their little brother stated, nonetheless glad he had come to Hogsmeade this afternoon. Entertainment had been provided, indeed.
“All jokes aside, it’s good to see him behave like a normal person for once.” Fred smiled fondly. His twin nodded in agreement, wrapping his arm around his better half’s shoulder.
“You’re not the one having to put up with the sappy shit everyday.” Ron grumbled.
“Lucky us.”
“Oh and Ronnie, you still have to pay for these Extendable Ears.”
“I hate you.”
They stayed at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes for a few more minutes. The two murderous demons had finally calmed down and, oddly, had decided to go to the pet store together, leaving first the shop. Then, Ron had taken off, not long after their departing, in favor of a tentative attempt at seducing one of the cashiers.
That left Theo and Harry alone, in a small corner of the overpopulated shop. A huge victory for the raven-haired boy, who had waited all afternoon for an opportunity like this one. Now, he just needed to impress his classmate and convince him to go on a real date with him, this time. Simple, right?
He was hatching a brilliant plan in his mind, when Harry felt a tug at his left elbow. He looked up and instantly spotted Theo’s distraught expression. His angelic features were twisted by discomfort, his skin paler than usual. Harry didn’t need to ask, he already knew what was wrong. So, he clasped Theo’s hand and led them to a backdoor, shoving anyone who dared to be on their way.
“Feeling better?” He gently enquired, once they were breathing the fresh and cool air. His friend nodded, gratefulness brightening his strained traits. His cristal eyes were shimmering with relief and Harry felt proud to have been the one generating it.
They were alone in a small forgotten alley, wind blowing their scarves and ruffling their dark hairs. It was probably around five pm, for the sky had already darkened. Laughters and melodious music were flowing with the breeze, somewhere in the background. The faltering glow of candles was illuminating the passage, shining through the foggy windows above them. Harry could discern a faded sign, only a few meters away.
An idea suddenly popped up in his brain. He smiled and pulled an unsure Theo in his steps. Still holding his hand (for safety, of course), Harry guided them towards the shop he had just noticed. It was a bookshop, narrow and old. The facade seemed medieval and in need of an urgent clean-up. Harry pushed the heavy wooden door and they entered, curious.
The interior was the complete opposite: a welcoming and cozy atmosphere reigned over crammed bookcases. There were grimoires, parchments and books everywhere, piled up on infinite bookshelves, threatening to collapse at any given time. The scent of old paper and lavender was floating around them, titillating their noses.
“Wow.” Theo breathed out, amazement clearly printed on his face. “Did we just stumble in heaven?”
Harry chuckled, as awed as his friend. He ushered them along the shelves, trying to catch titles as they passed. Theo’s slim fingers were delicately brushing against the books’ spine, dust fluttering around.
“Do you see something interesting?”
“Harry, every one of these works of art is interesting.”
“I wonder if the owner is here…”
Theo hummed, not paying attention, rather captivated by a precise row of books. He halted in his tracks, making them both stop. A grimoire with an emeraude leathery cover had caught his eyes.
“ Scandinavian Runes and their Evolution …” Harry read out loud. He nudged Theo’s side and suggested to him. “You should take it.”
“Maybe…” He hesitated. He wanted to grab it, but was unfortunately too short to reach the right shelf. Theo groaned, always his damn height.
But then, a torso was suddenly pressing against his back and a stretched arm appeared out of nowhere, right next to his face. That’s how Theo realized his head only reached the level of Harry’s shoulders. Well, with their current position, it was more his chest than anything else. A firm and hard chest. He could hear the taller boy’s heart beating, resonating with his own.
What was happening to him today? Theo was out of breath, struggling to keep his eyes open. A familiar scent was surrounding him, intoxicating his senses. Harry’s warmth, burning his back, was plunging him into a groggy daze.
“Here.” The raspy voice murmured in his ear.
Theo’s eyes were still closed, his mind spinning. He felt dizzy, his limbs shivering, his back tumbling against the solid surface.
“Are you feeling alright? Theo?”
He nearly couldn’t hear the concerned hushed words, a buzzing sound deafening his eardrums. He tried to lift his eyelids, heavy and uncooperative. When he finally succeeded, the dizziness intensified, causing his knees to wobble. Strong hands held his waist firmly, maintaining him upright.
“Did you eat today?” Harry asked, worried, the book dropped on the floor, long forgotten.
“I-I don’t remember.” Theo managed to pronounce.
If he were completely honest, Theo did remember. In fact, he had a pleasant lunch with Draco just before leaving the castle. So, hypoglycemia wasn’t really the problem. No, it wasn’t the problem, because the only possible cause of his dizziness was actually a scent. Harry’s scent. Now, he wasn’t going to tell the guy that his smell almost made him faint, was he?
“It’s okay, I feel better.” He muttered, trying to free himself from the tight grip, but in vain. Harry’s hands were secured on his waist and it appeared they weren't going to leave any time soon.
God, it was embarrassing. Today had been a day of successive humiliations. First Ron’s older brother and now Harry? Maybe someone had cursed him… It was the only logical explanation for whatever the hell was happening.
“We’re going to the Three Broomsticks and you’ll eat something there.”
“But…”
“Not buts, Theo.” Harry interrupted him, staring at him furiously. “You almost fainted, for fuck’s sake!”
Theo sighed defeatedly. “You don’t have to remind me…” He mumbled under his breath.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. Let’s go. Hermione, Draco and Ron will be waiting.”
They exited the magical bookshop, Theo promising himself he’d return, if he could recall the way. When they arrived at the inn, the stubborn boy did eat something under the glowering stare of Harry, while their friends joyously related the rest of their afternoon. In the end, they left Hogsmeade late in the evening, darkness painting their surroundings.
And if from the bookshop departure to the castle arrival, Harry’s hands never once left Theo’s waist, well nobody else needed to know.