Anyone You Want
I.
Harry tried to flatten his fringe, but like the rest of his hair it refused to stay down. He scowled at his reflection, which scowled back in what he felt was an unnecessarily mocking way. Fine, he thought. Let him look stupid on his first day of Auror training. Let all the Aurors and all the other students look at him and think, "That's the famous Harry Potter? What's with his hair?" Out of nerves, he ran a hand through his hair, leaving it even messier than it was when he started. He sighed and gave up, then snatched up his wand and his bag full of new notebooks and quills and headed down the stairs.
Distractedly he placed a few pieces of bread in the toaster and jabbed his wand at it, then started the coffee pot percolating. As he leaned back to wait for the toast we wasn't at all sure he wanted, he heard the front door open, and knowing who it was, he turned to grab a second coffee mug. He had just poured it when Remus stumbled in and threw himself down at the kitchen table.
Harry knew better than to try to talk to Remus until he'd had at least one cup of coffee, so he set the mug in front of him and turned to spread marmalade on the toast which had just finished. After a few minutes of companionable silence, Remus started to look a bit more awake, so Harry decided to chance some conversation.
"Long night?" he asked the older man.
Remus sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Yes, very long. It gets worse every night. Well, you've seen what it's like this summer."
"Dumbledore says it's a good sign," Harry commented, turning his toast over and over.
"I know," Remus laughed grimly. Then he said in a decent imitation of Dumbledore's gentlemanly speech, "You see, the nearer defeat they are, the more desperate their actions become."
Harry's mouth twisted wryly, and he took another sip of his coffee. "Yeah. Let's hope he's right."
Remus grunted and gulped more coffee. Harry stared down at his toast, then at his watch. It was about time to go, but at that moment he'd rather be out on a dangerous mission for the Order than facing his first day of Auror training. He knew it was stupid, because after all the work he, Ron, and Hermione had done against the Death Eaters that summer, starting something as safe and tame as attending Auror training classes should be easy. He would be studying, he reminded himself. More importantly, he would be learning better ways to fight, he would be spending his days with people who weren't trying to kill him--indeed, they were actively trying to help him survive. But regardless of how he knew he should feel, the fact was, he was desperately afraid he'd make a prat of himself while everyone was watching. The thought made his stomach churn, and he set down his toast. He couldn't make himself eat.
Harry stood and took his dish and mug over to the sink. "I guess I'd better get going," he said on a great sigh.
Remus glanced up from his coffee mug. "That's right, today's your first day of Auror training. Nervous?"
"Who, me, nervous?" Harry said sarcastically, running a hand through his hair again.
Remus laughed, then stood up and crossed the kitchen to pour himself another cup of coffee. Whether accidentally or on purpose, the movement placed him right next to Harry, and he reached out and clapped a hand to Harry's shoulder.
"You'll be fine, Harry," he said with an encouraging smile. "Your parents would be proud."
Harry took a deep breath. "Thanks," he said, feeling the tension in his chest loosen a little bit. "See you tonight, I guess." He walked over to the hearth, but just then Remus called to him again.
"Hey, Harry?" he said. "Comb your hair, will you, mate?"
Harry laughed and punched Remus on the shoulder. Feeling much better than he had done before, he removed his glasses, and stepped into the fireplace. When the flames glowed green he yelled, "The Ministry of Magic!" and after a few minutes jostling and swirling, he was spit out on the floor of the Atrium of the Ministry. He shook his head slightly to clear it, and noticed a large hand being held in front of him. He slipped his glasses back on and saw that the hand belonged to Ron, who was towering over him offering a hand up. He grinned and grabbed it, stumbling slightly as Ron heaved him up.
"All right there, Harry?" Ron asked, grinning.
"All right," Harry said, returning his grin. "You?"
"All right," Ron said. "I told Hermione we'd wait for her here. She's Apparating from her parents' house."
"What, you two haven't moved in together yet?" Harry teased, raising a black eyebrow. To his surprise, Ron's face turned pink. Harry raised both eyebrows, wondering what this new development was.
"Er…no, we haven't moved in together," Ron stammered, "but maybe we should. We need more…er…privacy than we needed at Hogwarts…" He trailed off, looking everywhere but at Harry. His ears flamed bright red, and he couldn't quite hide his grin.
Harry stared at him blankly for a moment before understanding hit. When it did he laughed out loud and clapped Ron on the shoulder. "She finally gave it up, did she, mate? Good for you!"
Ron turned even redder, and gave Harry a look that was a mix of a scowl and a look of outrageous pride. Before he had a chance to answer, there was a pop a few feet away from them and Hermione appeared, her giant bag slung over her shoulder and her curly hair pulled back in a ribbon. She saw Ron and gave a shy smile, her cheeks blushing prettily. Ron returned her smile with what Harry figured must have been the goofiest grin he had ever seen.
"Hullo," Ron said awkwardly. Hermione's smile deepened.
"Hello," she said softly, hugging her books to her chest and gazing at him.
Harry rolled his eyes, but he couldn't quite suppress the stab of jealousy that shot through him. He was truly happy that Ron and Hermione were so much in love, but their obvious --very obvious-- feelings for each other sometimes left him feeling a little wistful and lonely. It wasn't that he fancied anyone in particular, he thought, as he looked up at the ceiling. He just sometimes wished he had someone. When those feelings were too much for him, he would work out on Remus' weight set, with the result that after a summer with no girls in his life, at least not in that way, he was becoming quite muscular. That was something to be glad about, he thought glumly, even if the cause of it wasn't.
Ron and Hermione continued to stare at each other. Harry cleared his throat. "Hello?" he said, waving a hand in front of Ron's face. "Remember me?"
He had apparently broken their trance because Hermione started and glanced over at him and smiled, a much more brisk and much less dreamy smile than the one she had given Ron. "Hello, Harry!" she said brightly. "Ready for the first day of training?"
"No," he said equally cheerfully. "I'm quite sure I'll make a total idiot of myself."
"You will not!" Hermione declared with touching loyalty. "Will he, Ron?"
"I figured he probably would," Ron said, a mischievous look in his brown eyes. Hermione smacked him on the shoulder and Harry smirked. He was glad he had these two beside him, even if he did make an idiot of himself today.