•Draco's pov•

Ever since the day Harry held my hand I'd been thinking of him in a new light. The way I felt not only when he came to me for comfort, but when he held my hand.. it's a feeling I'm not quite used to. I guess it's never too late to realize that I probably have feelings for him. I felt bad really, cos I'd been avoiding him. Well not really avoiding him, just very distant. I just became friends with him a couple weeks ago now. I didn't want to mess things up with these newfound feelings.

So like any sane person, I just pushed him as far away as I could without hurting his feelings. "Draco Malfoy." I heard someone say sternly behind me. "Yes Hermione?" I said not even having to turn around to know. "We need to talk. Now." I nodded, sighing in a quick defeat and following the wavy haired girl to a stranded spot in the common room. Not many people were up this bright and early. "What is it Mione?" She glared at me in response, "don't Mione me. Why're you avoiding Harry?"

I put my hands up in defense, "I'm protecting myself and him." She tilted her head in confusion, "excuse me?" I frowned, putting my head down. I had to think on things for a moment. Hermione and I were very close now, I knew I could trust her. I just wasn't sure if I could trust her enough to not tell Harry. "Can I trust you to keep this between us?" She scanned my face for a second, analyzing as she does. "Of course, you should know that Draco." I smiled softly, running a hand through my hair.

"I have feelings for your friend. I don't want him knowing, I know he doesn't feel the same way. Honestly with all he's been through I'd just be another burden, I just want to keep this to myself. Please don't say anything." Everything finally clicked in that head of hers, and she smiled at me. "Oh Draco, I won't say anything. It's just between you and me. I don't agree with you pushing him away though. He thinks he did something wrong."

I frowned nodding, "I will talk to him today okay? I will stop avoiding him, I just want to pocket these feelings and forget them. He's become my bestfriend and that's what I need to remind myself." She nodded, not adding much else onto the conversation, but giving me that famous look. I sighed heading towards Harry and I's dorm. I walked in slowly, seeing the boy sat up sleepily, attempting to draw. "Hey Scarhead.." I started looking over at him. His head snapped up with wide eyes, "yes..?" He had a hopeful voice and my heart felt a pang, I felt really bad now.

I walked over, pointing to the bed. "May I?" He immediately moved over nodding, "of course." I smiled, sitting down. "I'm sorry I've been ignoring you lately, I didn't mean to. I've just had a lot going on and I needed some space." He nodded, grinning at me. "That's alright, I figured it was me." I shook my head, pulling him in for a hug. "It's not you darling. You did nothing wrong." He nodded into the crook of my neck. I could feel him smiling against my skin and it made me smile.

"I've missed you." He mumbled as he pulled away from the hug. I chuckled ruffling his always untidy hair. "I've missed you too Potter. What do you say we go down for breakfast, okay?" He nodded, pushing me. "Well move then."

•

"No absolutely not!" Harry protested, glaring at me. "Please! Just one outfit, if you don't like it you don't wear it. Simple." Harry groaned, putting his head on the table. "Fine." He mumbled. I smirked, "what was that? I couldn't hear you." He picked his head up glaring at me, "I said fine." I clapped, cheering playfully, "amazing! You're going to look better than ever!"

"What did you just agree to Harry?" Ron asked in a confused tone. "Malfoy is making me agree to let him buy me an outfit that I have to wear." He said with an eye roll as Ron laughed. "Mate that's hilarious, also a really idiotic idea on your part. Why did you agree to that?!" Ron was laughing harder than I'd ever seen him laugh before and Harry was glaring at him.

"Well because.. well because he asked nicely?" Harry said with a large level of uncertainty in his voice. That made Ron laugh harder, "wow mate, the bar is on the floor isn't it? B-because he asked nicely, Mione are you hearing this?!" Hermione was chuckling softly, watching Ron break out into a fit of giggles and laughter. She shook her head, "you boys drive me insane, Pansy don't ever let anyone tell you you're not strong. We have dealt with four of the most idiotic boys for seven years."

Pansy nodded, smirking, "don't I know it babe." Blaise scoffed, looking at Ron, "when did our girlfriends become girlfriends?" Ron chuckled, shaking his head, "I have absolutely no idea Blaise." Hermione rolled her eyes, "we're not girlfriends, not that I'd mind that." Ron gave her a weird look, and then he looked at Blaise. Blaise just gave Pansy a look seeing Pansy eyeing Hermione. "What?" Hermione asked a blush apparent on her face.

"Hermione, are you poly?" Harry asked, curiously. Hermione shrugged, "I never thought about it really." Ron looked confused, but said, "Hermione can we talk?" Hermione nodded, awkwardly, getting up and walking out of the great hall without another word. Ron following short behind her, "what the bloody fuck just happened?" Harry said making me chuckle, "I'm not sure but please don't ever say bloody fuck again." I said laughing harder.

Pansy and Blaise looked like they were arguing quietly and I scratched the back of my neck, looking at Harry. "Do you want to go back to the dorm until we're supposed to go to hogsmeade?" Harry nodded, finishing the last of his pumpkin juice standing up. "We will meet you guys at noon." Harry said and Blaise just gave him a thumbs up.

Me and Harry started out of the great hall, and then burst into laughter. "Well alright then." Harry said shaking his head. My laughter died down into soft chuckles, and I looked over to see Harry smiling at me. I tilted my head in confusion, "why are you smiling at me like that?" He just smiled harder if that was possible, "your laugh is infectious." He said slowly, and I couldn't help the blush that crept up on my face. "Thank you, you soft git."

Harry shoved me playfully, "I am not soft." He made this face, in which I think he was trying to be scary. I laughed again, "yes that obviously proves it." I said ruffling his hair, he blushed at the contact but said nothing more. Huffing at me he walked through the common room in-front of me, where we saw Hermione crying and Ron holding her. "Hermione, really it's alright. We just need to communicate these things, that's all, I'm not mad!"

Harry approached the girl slowly, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "You okay love?" I smiled softly at their friendship. She shook her head and buried her face in her hands crying softly. "Mione you can't help it and that's okay." Ron said and I walked over to take Hermione's hands, wiping her tears away. "Whatever is going on is nothing for you to be ashamed about I'm sure of it."

Hermione sighed, and then she did something I didn't expect. She clung to me. I hugged her tightly, looking at Ron for approval and he nodded. I rubbed her back slowly until her breathing slowed down. "Thank you Draco.." I nodded still not letting her go until she was ready, "of course. Do you wanna talk about it." Harry was watching me with a certain glint in his eyes I couldn't quite place when I looked at him, and I blushed under his gaze, focusing back on Hermione.

"I am not sure what's going on, I love Ron really I mean it but I have an attraction to Pansy I can't pinpoint." Ron smiled, "look Mione, there's so many people in this world, no rules say you have to only like one person. I know you love me. I don't doubt it for a second, you having feelings for Pansy doesn't change how I feel about you either." Hermione nodded, and Harry just shook his head. "What is it Harry?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.

"That's the most mature level headed thing I have ever heard Ron say in my life." That got Hermione to chuckle, "can you imagine this situation three years ago? He'd have my head." Ron chuckled, "we're growing up, and the same things don't make me mad anymore. I'm working on myself, and I love you Hermione Jean, all I want is you happy with or without me." Hermione grabbed Ron's hand, "I don't understand what I'm feeling right now but I know I never want to be without you Ron I love you."

Ron kissed her head, "as long as you want me you'll always have me. No matter what, if you want a girlfriend get a girlfriend. I'm not kissing Blaise though." Everyone laughed including Hermione, "I love you." She said softly, and Ron kissed her sweetly, "and I love you."

•

Hogsmeade was awkward. Pansy and Hermione were avoiding each other. Blaise and Ron talked everything out, apparently Pansy was feeling the same way. Neither guy cared as long as their girls were happy and healthy communication stayed in place. "Me and Harry are going to break off, we'll meet you guys for lunch?" Everyone nodded.

"You know what breaking off is going to mean for you, right?" Harry asked with an emotion in his voice I couldn't quite place, "I don't read the prophet." He gave a short nod, and I took his hand pulling him into Tomes and Scrolls. "Ew, why must you be such a nerd." I stuck my tongue out at him, grabbing a few book that I've been wanting to read. Harry wondered close behind, "I wonder if they sell sketch books? I need a new one." I nodded, leading him the way. "Just over here." I pointed and he smiled at me. "Thanks." He mumbled looking between them.

Harry ended up getting a new sketch book, and two journals. "Why do you need two journals?" I asked curiously, no one could have that much to say. "Ones for my feelings, ones for poetry. Padfoots idea." I nodded, smiling at the thought. "Sirius is amazing." Harry agreed quietly. "Are you alright? You're awfully quiet today." He blushed, putting his head down. "Just not feeling very verbal." I nodded, pondering for a moment, before saying, "want to go to Honeydukes?"

His face lit up and he nodded quickly, I chuckled taking his books and paying for them much to his protest. We headed over to honeydukes and he immediately went to grab some chocolate frogs, i smiled watching how excited he got picking through the sweets. When we were gone picking some out, we went up and I paid for that too. He huffed, with a little pout. "You don't have to buy everything, I'm capable of paying for myself." I shrugged, "your smile is worth it." I said poking his nose. He scrunched it up, swatting at my hand. "You're adorable." I spoke softly, and he blushed.

"Stop it." He said trying to hide his face, walking out of the shop before I could catch up. "Hey get back here you prat." I wrapped my arms around his waist and he chuckled, putting his hands on top of mine. "Hello." He smiled turning to look at me. I blushed, winking at him, "well hello, best catch of the day." He broke into a fit of giggles, "you're too nice to me." I shrugged, "you deserve it for once, darling. Besides you're my bestfriend."

"Well aren't you two cute." We heard Ron's voice boom and me and Harry sprung apart, "oh hey Ron." Harry said nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you guys like each other." Harry glared at Ron, "we don't like each other Ronald. What is it you needed?" Ron put his hands up in defense, "could've fooled me, you guys looked awfully smitten. Anyways you guys are late for our lunch."

"Sorry Ron, let's go." Harry said, a tone of annoyance evident in his voice. I cringed inwardly at the way he handled things now. Before the war he was easily irritated but not this bad. He seemed to be freaking out on the inside. I grabbed his hand, running my thumb over the back of it to ground him. "You're okay, breathe." I whispered in his ear, he stiffened for a second and then nodded sighing. We stayed hand in hand the whole way to the three broomsticks.

We sat there and ate lunch and talked about what we were going to do next. We spent the whole day together walking around, me and Harry held hands the whole time. Friends do that.. right?

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A/N hope you enjoyed loves.

Much love,

-H🫶🏼