Harry was ravenous after Charms, Transfiguration, and Defence against the Dark Arts. He and Ron trekked down to the Great Hall where they met Hermione.
"I've heard some very raunchy rumors about you, Harry. Please tell me you weren't in a three-way with Draco and Pansy in the middle of the hall." she said sarcastically.
Ron busted with laughter and Harry rolled his eyes, "honestly, Pansy doesn't even attend Hogwarts, anymore."
"The things people will say." she sighed.
Harry nodded, laughing a bit, "I'm going to wait for Draco, you two go ahead."
Ron and Hermione found seats together near the middle of the Gryffindor table, Harry loitered outside, looking for his tall, blond, boyfriend. Many of his friends passed him, saying 'Hello'; they'd either heard and didn't care that he was seeing Malfoy or, they were about to be very surprised.
Harry perked up when he saw Draco walking towards the hall, Blaise beside him. He was nervous, excited, butterflies flitted in his stomach.
"Hi. Can Blaise join us today?" He laced his hand into Harry's with a smile.
"Yeah, great. Hi." Harry tried not to stammer feeling his cool hand in his, "Blaise can sit with us anytime."
"I'd rather not." he said, but smiled after.
Harry, Blaise, and Draco took seats across from Hermione and Ron. It was very awkward at first, but it wasn't long before they were talking about classes, free periods, and N.E.W.T.s that year. Harry couldn't help thinking that in this moment, they were just regular kids,, for a few minutes, they all forgot about everything they'd been through and he was just having lunch with his boyfriend.
No one at the Gryffindor table said anything and did nothing more than give leering looks, but those too, faded away.
Half way through lunch, Draco and Hermione were arguing over the best way to juice a bullywug spleen, Blaise elbowed Draco in the side and nodded to the entrance of the Hall. Jax and Burrows had just walked through, having been dismissed from Madam Pomfrey's care. They took a seat at the Slytherin table where two boys leaned over, whispered, and pointed right at Draco.
Jax met Draco's eyes and slowly slid to Harry, his lips curling into a cruel sneer. Draco instinctively grabbed Harry's hand under the table, something his mother used to do when his father was in a rage. Draco dropped Jax's gaze and returned to his discussion with Hermione.
"If you don't puncture it first, it's likely to burst, you'll lose more juice that way and you'll have to use more spleens. It's simple." Draco concluded.
"I'll have to try that before I agree, I haven't read that in any books." Hermione said with uncertainty.
Lunch ended, the few remaining students in the great hall started to collect their things for afternoon class. Draco nodded to Blaise, letting him know he'd like to leave without a confrontation in front of Harry. Jax, however, was waiting them out. They could no longer sit there with no real reason.
Ron and Hermione were oblivious to the continuous fighting between Draco and Jax, and Harry simply hadn't noticed him come in. Draco was not afraid of Jax, but he knew that Jax was ruthless and would do anything to win. Now that he'd seen him with Harry, it was a matter of time before he went after him. Yes, it would be downright stupid of him to attack Harry Potter, but Jax was downright stupid.
All five of them walked out of the Hall and collectively turned left, heading for the grounds, they all had Care of Magical Creatures next. Draco had one arm draped over Harry's shoulders while Harry had an arm linked across Draco's waist. Draco was now being very quiet while Harry and Ron talked about the oncoming quidditch match.
"So you're a faggot now, as well as a blood traitor?" an angry voice echoed from behind them.
All five students stopped dead, turning to see the speaker.
Ron was the first to react, "what the fuck did you just say?" his hand tight around his wand.
Blaise stepped up next, "Did you not learn your fucking Lesson, Travers? An unconscious night in the hospital wing not enough for you? Do I need to kick your ass again" He had dropped his bag and took a step forward.
Jax held his wand but kept it at his side. Burrows stood behind him menacingly.
"Where's your other henchman? Still recovering? You think that might be a hint to bugger off?" Draco stepped in front of Harry protectively. Harry pushed him aside and stepped in front.
"You want to have a go? Bring it, you slimy excuse for a wizard. I defeated Voldemort, you think you can take me on?" Jax, for the first time, looked intimidated.
Draco's heart was both full of admiration for Harry's confidence and heavy with fear that Jax would attempt to take Harry down. Jax was an idiot, but he was quick as a whip when it came to dueling. Jax looked at the five people in front of him, all a year old, all more experienced, all prepared to duel. He turned around and walked away, "Come on, Burrows, let's go check on Crenshaw."
"That's right, you coward, and don't let me see you around here again!" ROn called after them.
"Ron, they go here." Hermione reminded him.
"I meant, like, here, bothering Harry." Ron clarified.
"Ah. okay, love." She patted him on the shoulder, "let's get to class. Hagrid hates when we're late."