December 2002
The biggest shock wasn't that Harry broke up with Will after that weekend… it was that he didn't. They stayed together and Harry had a proper, grown up conversation with him about his previous relationship with Charlie and how things had been left between them.
It had been painfully awkward, but he felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders for sharing. And, for his part, Will seemed to appreciate the honesty. Their relationship wasn't perfect. But it was good.
Will spent Christmas with his family in Oxford, then returned to London in time for what promised to be an epic New Years' celebration.
"Thank you for my present," Will said, winding the red and gold striped scarf tightly around his neck.
"You're welcome," Harry said with a smirk. "It suits you."
"Don't you have one like this?"
"Hmm. Something similar, yeah."
Will chuckled. "Don't say we're going to match."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't do that to you."
Harry was laughing too as Will pulled them closer together and peppered light kisses over Harry's lips. They were planning to go down to the Thames to watch the fireworks, just the two of them, since Ron and Hermione had accepted an invitation to a Ministry event. Harry had been invited too, and they'd even offered to make an exception for his Muggle 'plus one'.
That was the last line to cross – telling Will that he was a wizard. Harry had looked into it, too; there was plenty of literature in the Ministry library on how to go about inducting a Muggle into the Statute of Secrecy, the steps that needed to be taken and the forms that needed to be filled in. Paperwork. Reams and reams of paperwork.
After careful consideration, Harry had decided not to go through that. There was something liberating about having a partner separate to the wizarding world, who didn't care about Hogwarts or Quidditch or whether or not hats were back in fashion. Will wanted to know whether Chelsea had a shot at the title next season and who was going to die on Eastenders.
The point that had decided it for Harry, though, was the fact that once he knew, Will would always be there on Ministry files. He could be followed or tracked for the rest of his life. And, if anyone wanted to ever go looking, his name would be there, attached to Harry's.
William Gary Chivers, Muggle. Harry James Potter, wizard.
If anything ever happened to Will because of that connection, Harry knew he'd never be able to forgive himself. Even if it was fifty years down the line. Will was innocent and Harry intended to keep him that way.
"Come on," Will said, sliding his hand into Harry's. "Or we'll never get there in time to see the fireworks."
"Okay," Harry agreed.
Then he stole another kiss.