Madam Pince glared at Harry as he paced in her precious library.
"Mr Potter, could you please sit still for more than a minute please?"
Draco entered as he saw Harry go between the bookshelves. He quickly went into the next one so that he could see Harry's eyes through the slats on top of the books.
"Hello stranger." He said casually.
Harry started as if someone had put a full body bind on him.
"Draco? What are you doing here?"
"Ron said you were heading here so I came to talk to you. He told me why you punched him and he's really miserable. He's blaming himself for you losing your temper with him. He's really beating himself up about it. We need to work on your temper problem, don't we?"
"I suppose. I don't have a problem though."
"Harry, sweetie, that's what people who do have a problem say when they are trying to avoid accepting help. Harry we've been together for a decent five years and I know you better than anyone and you won't take help. You're really proud. Look, I love you but when you and Ron fight neither of you will back down. Now until one of you does, I'm not coming near you. That's the penalty I'm afraid. As long as you are fighting with him I will stay far away from you. Let's just see how long you last out." Draco grinned and left the library before Harry could protest.
He went back to the entrance hall where Ginny was cuddling Ron to try and make him feel better.
"Hi guys! How're you feeling Ron?"
"It hurts!"
"Stop being such a baby. I talked to Harry. My terms will soon make him back down."
"Oh god! What have you done?"
"It's what I'm not going to do that'll make him crumble. Until this thing is resolved he's not getting any action from me. I'm not even going near him. I don't think it'll be too long before he makes up with you."
"Thanks Draco. How do you think of these schemes?"
"I'm a Slytherin, it's what we do. Plus I know what he's like. He can't last long without me so he'll come running before long."
Hermione stormed up to them.
"What's going on here? Malfoy, what are you doing?"
"I'm being nice. I was checking up on how Ron was. I may be a Slytherin but I do have a heart. I felt sorry for him. He looked such a state in the hall. Come on Ron, I'll see if I can find you a potion or something for the pain."
Draco hauled him to his feet and helped him off towards the dungeons. Hermione sat next to Ginny on the stairs.
"Gin, I really don't understand what's going on here. Harry's angrier than usual. He hits poor old Ron. Ron isn't angry with him, like he should be. Malfoy's being nice to Ron. Harry and Malfoy are on first name terms. Ron actually knows something but won't tell me. I'm not in the loop here and I want to and should be."
"Mione, calm down. They're guys and like all guys are entitled to act oddly now and then."
"I thought that rule only applied to girls at certain times in the month?"
"The boys can as well. Especially our boys. Look, Mione, they're 17. Their hormones are way high. Their testosterone levels are practically off the scales. It's times like these that requires us girls to take a step back and let them sort themselves out. God knows they don't do us any good when they're like this! Mind you, they don't do us much good at any other time either!"
Hermione laughed and Ginny grinned her infamously mischievous grin.
"So what do I do about Harry and Ron?"
"Nothing. Give them space. They'll thank you for it. If you pry they won't talk to you for weeks."
"It's not like they say anything useful at the moment anyway!"
"Mione, they're blokes…you do the math! They never say anything useful anyway!"
They shared a laugh as Professor McGonnagal walked past the stairs. She stopped abruptly as she heard them.
"What are you doing here, ladies?"
"We were just discussing the rather odd behaviour of a certain trio of boys."
"Oh? And who might they be?"
"Harry, Ron and Malfoy. They're being very peculiar at the moment."
"What's changed? They always act very strangely."
"I know that but its worse at the moment."
"Tell me. I might be able to shed some light on the subject."
"Well for starters, they are all on first name terms. Harry and Ron I can understand but Malfoy has never been friendly with them."
Hermione notices the glance that Ginny and Professor McGonnagal shared.
"What? What's going on? You both know something. Tell me!"
Another look was shared.
"Have you thought some more about what you want to be? I know that Potter, Malfoy, and Weasley are all staying on to teach here."
"Really? They've never expressed a wish to teach before now."
"Oh yes, Hermione. Harry is to be the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Draco is to be the Potions master and head of Slytherin house. I will stop being the head of Gryffindor and Harry will undertake it. Madame Hooch has expressed a wish to retire after this year and Ron is to take her place. Also Professor Flitwick wishes to retire soon and if you want the job, Hermione, it's yours. You are the most skilled in charms, in fact in everything, in your year and I feel you could do the job justice."
"Thank you Professor. I will certainly consider it. Oh no! I have a charms essay that I still haven't finished. Excuse me I must finish it."
Hermione ran off towards the library. McGonnagal looked at Ginny.
"Thank you Professor. I couldn't think of a way to divert her from the topic."
"That's alright. I sensed that she was getting too close to finding out the truth. I don't think Harry wants her finding out anytime soon."
"No. What with her thing for him, it would be dangerous, to say the least."
"Excessively, I'd say. What do you think would happen if she did find out? I find the whole thing rather intriguing."
"So do I Professor. I think Hermione would challenge them in a public place like the dining hall or here in the entrance hall. She would start shouting and Harry would get annoyed because she wouldn't give him a chance to defend himself. She would lose her temper the longer she yelled and he would then lose his. She might try to hex him and he would then get really mad and curse her. I think it would be mightily spectacular and I hope I'm around to see it."
"You sound as though you had thought about what would happen for a long time."
"Well I have. I have known for several years and my pretending to fancy him was just ruse anyway to divert Hermione. Ron and I have a bet as to when this will happen. He thinks soon. I think at the end of year banquet."
"Poor Hermione. She really has no idea."
"The two of them shared a laugh as Ron came back from the dungeons and he and Ginny walked up the marble staircase together.
McGonnagal watched them go and still chuckling went to the staffroom. She had a meeting with Ron later to discuss where events were heading.