Once showered, shaved, and clothed, I left my dorm with my book bag slung across my body. It was quite a bit later than I'd been showing up to breakfast, but Harry had distracted me enough. We already hold hands in public, why won't he show the love bite I gave him?
I shook my head to clear that thought from it, and exited my room. Once in the common room, I strove not to hone in on the whispers that surrounded me, instead making a bee-line for the Great Hall. Once there, I found Harry already seated at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione. As I headed to join them, she saw me first, and I blanched. She knows.
Why that mattered so much to me, I couldn't understand. Still, the last few steps to their table were agonizing.
"Morning," I commented noncommittally as I sat beside Harry, sliding his wand into his pocket subtly.
"Morning," came Harry's reply.
"Morning!" Hermione's overly perky greeting confirmed my suspicions, and Harry gave me a guilty smile. A groaning, ruffled Weasley joined us just then, and another round of 'Morning!'s sounded from the table. Once seated, I cast Harry a curious glance, which he merely returned with a shrug. She must have excellent perception. That, or Harry told her of his own free will, which I can hardly believe. This woman is one to be feared.
Remembering this fact, I hastily arranged my own breakfast from the dishes set out on the Gryffindor table. Slowly, the rest of the group joined us, but Harry and I were done before the rest. We slipped away quietly, leaving Hermione to whisper animatedly to the redhead, and the rest looking half-awake as they consumed their breakfasts. Once outside the Hall, I rounded on Harry.
"You told her? I thought you were more keen to keep it a secret."
Harry blushed at the floor as I crossed my arms.
"I… Ran into her on my… Walk of shame…" The scenario my imagination conjured was nothing short of comedic, but I waited silently for him to continue. "She's… Undeservedly perceptive, and equally as curious. Should I not have?"
His guilty glance up at me softened my heart a bit, and I uncrossed my arms.
"Not at all. Honestly, I'd be posting flyers by now if I didn't think you'd hex me for it."
Harry jostled me teasingly, and I laughed as the atmosphere eased.
"Wanna be early?"
We both arrived early to Potions. This time, we chose side-by-side seats near the back of the class.
"Snape must've had a helluva time trying to teach me Occlumency. I wish I could ask him how I'm managing to Legillimens you in my sleep."
Our old Potions professor's name sparked a sliver of pain in my chest, but I tried to shrug casually.
"Maybe you're just wicked powerful, like I've said?" Harry cocked his head to the side as if to say maybe. This arrogance inspired my next response. "Or maybe you're just head over heels for me?"
His answering flush earned a grin from me as the rest of our year started filtering into the classroom. Harry withdrew his textbook and notes from his bag, and I followed suit. Paying attention in class now, are we?
Within minutes of Slughorn's lecture for the day, though, a Horcrux note slid onto my desk.
'I think Hermione might be a bit too invested in our relationship.'
Cocking an eyebrow, I responded.
'Oh? Why's that?'
'Why do I think that? Or why is she so invested?'
'Both?'
Harry seemed to consider this for a moment before replying.
'Well, I don't think so, I know so. She asked some pretty invasive questions this morning.' My eyebrows raised at this before this note disappeared, and Harry continued writing. 'As for why she is? I think' Here, Harry paused long enough for his writing to vanish. 'She feels responsible for my happiness. She's overly mothering, and I know she'd do anything for me.'
Toward the end of this note, Harry's hand slowed.
'That's not a bad thing, right?' I wrote back after I seized the parchment back.
'Not necessarily. I wish she'd worry about herself, though. I worry she's avoiding her own well-being with mine.'
'Maybe tell her that?'
'Yeah'
The rest of the lecture continued uneventfully, and we both took a fair bit of notes. Not that he needs it with a teacher's pet friend like Hermione.
Once the bell tolled, we were off to Herbology. Sprout sent us all to the library again, and Harry and I were once again swimming in literature, wrapping up the loose ends of our project. As we sat compiling our notes, Harry's foot made hesitant contact with my ankle and slid up my leg. I cocked an eyebrow at him, finding he was already watching me.
"Can I help you?" I repeated his words from last night back to him.
His answering flushed grin said enough, but he replied nonetheless.
"I'd say you already have," he returned my own words in kind. I smirked.
"Corny git. What do you want?" I dared him.
He glanced around at our classmates before turning his flush back to me.
"K-kiss me?"
My goading disappeared as I recognized the authenticity in his expression. Really? Here? Unsure if he was serious or not, I leaned forward on my elbows across the table. I'd only meant to call his bluff as I realized the implications such an act of affection would have on our social lives, in such a social space. My cheeks flamed.
Harry, however, only grinned and leaned forward to plant a kiss square on my lips. I lingered as he sat back, and my reopening eyes perceived the vicious blush on his face. He cleared his throat as I sat back in my seat, a curious grin spreading across my face.
"Th-thanks."
"Anytime," I answered before I could think better of it. Oh… If he expects a kiss anytime he asks, he can ask literally any time. What have I done?
The dread that blinked in and out of existence in my chest was quickly replaced with pleasure as I dropped my eyes back down to the book I'd been reading. Does this mean I can ask whenever I want? This realization sent my thoughts reeling as I strove to focus on the text before me. I think I'd fuck him senseless in this library if he asked.
This thought, unbidden in my mind, warmed my cheeks a bit more. Memories of the previous night flashed behind my eyes. The sound of Harry's first moan rang in my ears, and my vision blurred. Clearing my throat, I endeavored to focus back on the task at hand, but he'd already picked up on my mood.
"Focus, Draco," he cautioned. I cast him a scathing glare, but my usual venom was nowhere to be found.
"You focus, dickhead."
His answering chuckle silenced the both of us as we turned our attentions back to the books before us.