A/N: This is going to be sleep deprived nonsense. Also, queer. And Gin Blossoms.

HEY JEALOUSY

Draco Malfoy was not jealous.

He was also an idiot for trying to lie to the one person who could see through his facade. That was, of course, himself. Foolish. Not only for denying it entirely, but to feel that way at all. He had everything he wanted. After all these years, to be jealous of his childhood rival. Everyone had their eyes on the three as they walked down the street, arms flung over each others shoulders and heads high. They didn't so much as glance at anyone else, though he was sure Potter was soaking up the spotlight.

No, he was doing it again. It wasn't the attention, and it wasn't Potter he was jealous of. Well, maybe a little, but it was nothing like real jealousy. Draco Malfoy was jealous of Ron and Hermione Weasley, as much as he ever was, for being Potter's friends. After their animosity had crumbled, it turned to nothing. Nothing was worse than hate, yet he was unwilling to make Potter hate him again. It had been pushed out of mind for years. Four years since they'd left school, and he'd managed to avoid them. He'd skimmed over any article that mentioned their names - and there were many - turned into shops when they came into view, until he just stopped noticing them after a while.

Except for sudden moments like this, when he couldn't fail to notice them. Everyone seemed to notice them today. He couldn't imagine what the fuss was about. It had been years since the Dark Lord had been defeated, and he'd have heard of anything really important.

Unless he'd skimmed over every article mentioning it.

Frowning, he tore his gaze from the trio disappearing into the crowd and bought copy of the daily prophet. He had the same issue at home, most likely, but it wasn't here, and he wanted to know immediately. He glanced through articles, mindless drivel really, until something caught his eye back on the first page. He reread it three times. Harry Potter shocks Wizarding World. Savior in a relationship with Hermione & Ronald Weasley.

Draco Malfoy was jealous.

He was also tearing the newspaper into shreds without realizing it. He smoothed it out, and flipped to the third page, where said to find 'more on this story'. He read through the article without understanding. Wasn't he with Ginny Weasley? What was this? What was that he'd, them walking down the street like that, after this, with him wedged tightly between them. Like they thought someone would take a piece out of him. Without realizing it, he was moving through the crowd they'd disappeared into.

He couldn't catch sight of them.

He swore softly, and let the crush of the crowd move him along until he could extract himself. He'd felt the beginnings of claustrophobia in there, and he'd moved further from the crowd. He slipped into an alley with little thought except to get away. He wasn't the only one with that in mind.

"We shouldn't have come here-"

It sounded like Potter. Draco stilled. He hadn't meant to follow- well he had, but then he thought he'd lost them, and he hadn't really planned on actually confronting them. What would he say? He didn't want to know about their blasted affair! It was none of his business and he didn't want to break his perfect record of avoidance.

"Malfoy?" That was Granger - no, she was a Weasley now too. The other Weasley was suspiciously quiet.

"Must have taken a wrong turn," the blonde muttered, stepping back toward the alley entrance, turning only to bump into the tall Weasley's chest. He had more muscle than he remembered from school.

"Why did you follow us into the alley, Malfoy?"

Potter's voice made Draco forget about trying to get around the redheaded giant. He frowned at the ground. It was even filthier than he'd expected. "Apparently to ruin my shoes and run into childhood friend," he replied, turning back to the other two even though turning his back on Weasley made his shoulders itch.

"Very funny," Potter snapped, striding to meet him. Clearly unaware or uncaring what he was striding through. Draco grimaced, and regretted it a moment later because he was certain that Potter thought that was directed at him. "What is it? I saw you staring-"

Was I that obvious?

"I haven't seen you in years. It was a shock," Draco answered truthfully, and he was sure from the way Potter's expression changed that it rang true.

"That's all? And you, here?"

"I-" Draco stopped before he could offer a glib lie. "I wanted to know what the big fuss was about. I don't make a habit of reading the articles dedicated to you, and those aren't reliable anyway. So. Curiosity, because I haven't seen you in a while, and people are acting strange. And, honestly I hadn't followed you in here, I thought I'd lost track of you, and stepped in here to get out of the crowd. I was about to Apparate home."

For several long moments, Potter frowned at him. Then his expression relaxed. "The newspapers are convinced the three of us are having an illicit affair, this time. Not enough going on, and making up rumors about me tends to sell."

"Oh..." It wasn't true. It wasn't. He relaxed, almost forgetting about the Weasel behind him. "I'm shocked and appalled, of course. I wonder how they got that idea with you all clinging for each other for dear life?" He smirked. There. He made Potter frown again. Draco's smirk widened. Potter shook his head and smiled. Draco's smirk faltered. There was something about that smile he was uncertain about.

"You were watching us." It wasn't a question, and Draco couldn't work out the nuances to Potter's tone. Was he amused? Did he think this was funny? "Clinging, did you say? Did you see that crowd?"

Draco stared at him, and then it sunk in. The Weasleys were playing bodyguards. He doubted Potter would have gotten through without them. He would have been mobbed... was that normal for him? "That happen often?"

"Not so often, now. Though after today I imagine that's mainly because I stay at home." It was Draco's turn to frown, and Harry's to smirk. He should have realized that much, but he'd thought things were starting to die down. Of course he didn't read articles that mentioned Harry Potter. And that was a lot of articles...

"Speaking of home, I mentioned I was going?" Draco commented, though his frown faded after he thought he saw a flicker of disappointment flash across Potter's face. "You-" he paused, a remembered the Weasleys were with them, though they had remained mysteriously quiet as the two of them talked. "If you're done with your shopping, you can come over for lunch." It quickly occurred to him that they might not want to go to the Manor after what they'd been through there, but it had been meant to prolong his being out of the house without the drawbacks of mobs.

And to continue this odd discussion. It seemed it could go from congenial to bickering and back without notice or breath. It was almost fun, and familiar. Like old times, except without the ire. Or the curses.