They all filed into the Great Hall, House by House, on the final day of term to a solemn breakfast. The massive room was draped in black fabric to commemorate the passing of Professor Snape. His full name written in silver thread along the bottom of each free-floating drape. Even the bewitched sky was in mourning, pelting the uppermost reaches of the Great Hall with torrential rain that faded into nothingness. The ghosts were unusually sluggish as they appeared through the walls, the floor and took their usual places. Even Peeves was present and respectfully silent.
As realization struck his House, there was an outpouring of harsh murmurs. Slughorn, sat with them at the table, silenced them with a clearing of his throat. Looking at his House, knowing that some of them supported the grotesque man that was Voldemort, Blaise could barely stand to be associated with them.
Blaise turned to Tracey, who was taking in the banners with a quiet frown. "I'm going to Gryffindor."
None questioned Blaise as he moved to join Harry at Gryffindor. Babbling, sat at the head of the table, even smiled warmly at him as he appeared. Given his belongings lived under Harry's bed, it was no secret amongst the male sixth year Gryffindors he'd effectively left Slytherin, so He she was greeted without any hesitation. He squeezed in between Dean and Neville to sit opposite Harry.
The food appeared and soft chatter finally began. Blaise tuned out the conversation around him about Snape's death to look at the head table. It was packed. With Isabela being so heavily concussed yesterday evening, she'd elected to stay under Madam Pomfrey's observation, and was sat between McGonagall and Sinistra. His mother and Aurelio had returned to Italy. Kingsley, Moody, Lupin and Honorata were in a huddle at the end of the table, talking intently to each other as they ate. Scrimgeour sat to Dumbledore's left. Despite the affected seriousness on his face, he seemed quite pleased to Blaise. Given the rockiness of his position and the events at Nuremberg, it wasn't a surprise.
"Is that… your sister?" Dean asked him in a low whisper, nodding significantly at Isabela.
Even Neville peeled away from his eggs to have a look.
"My cousin."
Dean took her in with a tilt of his head. "She's uh – "
"Well fit," Seamus added shamelessly.
Blaise snorted. "Don't even bother. Might be married to a nasty Dark wizard who'll curse your balls off. Might not. Either way, I'll do the job if need be."
The table erupted in laughter at that, even as Harry gave him a weird look for noticing that Blaise hadn't been entirely joking. It wasn't Blaise's place to reveal any of Isabela's business, but either way, the late Umbridge had a better chance with his cousin than any man.
The room was soon filled with owls and Blaise braced himself. Accepting his own copy of the Prophet, Blaise muttered a curse. Taking in Dumbledore and Voldemort centre-stage on the front cover, he realised this was going to be worse than he could have imagined. He flicked through, finding a very damning photo of himself and Harry stood before Bellatrix's dead body with Hermione and Ron running into the shot. There were others such as Blaise setting Aurelio up for a summary execution of a vampire, Hermione igniting a vampire into kindling, and Ron… Ron's was nasty. He'd managed to hit Jugson in the face with a Reductor Curse. Thankfully, they hadn't had the audacity to display the butchery of the Nuremberg Library, though it was mentioned. The final page of the article was a stately portrait of Snape alongside a list of all those who'd participated in the battle alongside their affiliations. Blaise didn't like it at all, but there was nothing to do but accept the solidification of the target on the backs of his friends and family.
He could feel the weight of hundreds of gazes searching their table. Tracey gave him a timid, little smile as they caught each other's eye. As she was whenever the reality of the events outside their four walls hit her, she remained afraid. Daphne had yet to look up from her newspaper. Theo was visibly mourning, having lost his father in Snape's last stand, but he maintained his dignity by robotically working his way through his porridge. Millicent may as well have been a gargoyle.
Blaise still didn't trust them, but Daphne wouldn't hear it from either Tracey or himself.
"That's… a lot of photos," Harry eventually said.
"Percy enchanted his camera to follow him around whilst he was fighting," Ron explained, looking at a photo that had him facing off with Rabastan Lestrange. "Got loads more photos than I'd expected."
"So, you're all killers now?" Dean asked quietly.
Hermione just stared at him coldly. "When you're fighting for your – "
Ginny leaned in to cut her off. "Dean's not mad or disgusted. He's just asking the obvious question that you're going to hear a lot over the next few hours. Are you?"
It must have been too much for Hermione to admit as she clammed up, turning to make herself a fortifying cup of tea. Harry and Ron nodded.
"Suppose we are," Blaise said.
Dean didn't say anything more, returning to his newspaper with a frown.
Neville grabbed Blaise by the shoulder, pulling him in. "You killed her? Bellatrix Lestrange, did you kill her?"
Blaise shook his head. "Harry did."
"Team effort," Harry said. He lowered his voice so that they all had to lean in to hear him. "Blaise ensured she suffered for a bit at least."
Neville offered his hand, which Blaise took for the most robust handshake he'd ever experienced.
"Anything you need from me, you let me know, Blaise," he said with a broad smile. "Both of you. All of you, in fact. My parents would be…"
He seemed overcome with emotion for a moment before forcing himself to return to his breakfast. A moment later, Harry got to his feet.
"I've been given my signal," Harry said.
Blaise smiled at him. "You'll be great."
Neville and Ginny echoed him.
"Where are your notes?" Hermione asked.
Harry laughed. "Notes? I'm winging it, Hermione."
Hermione sighed heavily as Harry walked towards the pulpit.
"Break a leg, mate," Ron said with a toast of his mug of pumpkin juice at his retreating back.
"Good morning, everyone," Dumbledore said. "I will be brief. I imagine the events in the Prophet are both shocking and, hopefully, encouraging to us all. Never forget that outside of these walls a battle for all we hold true and right is waging. Even in the wake of this victory. There are none with as much of a stake in the future of this country as our resident Defence Coordinator, Harry Potter. Please welcome him with applause."
The applause was raucous as always from Gryffindor, but it was hesitant from the rest of the room. Blaise acknowledged it was difficult to reconcile the warm smile on Harry's face with his harsh scowl when stood over Bellatrix's body.
"What even is the point of Harry giving a speech?" Seamus muttered.
Blaise had to strangle down his immediate need to scoff. Thankfully, Ginny interjected.
"Isn't it obvious? McGonagall may be Headmistress, but Harry is Dumbledore's successor."
As Harry took to the winged pulpit, taking the spot Dumbledore vacated, silence fell. It was akin to those in the know to a passing of the baton.
Harry looked upon them all. As the silence built and anticipation grew to the point people began to wonder whether he'd lost his nerve, a cheeky smile finally appeared on his face.
"Good morning, Hogwarts."
They answered him as one.
"I have no notes. I just have a rough mental outline. I'm likely going to ramble, but I'm going to mean everything I have to say. Truth is important to me."
It was classic Harry. Mixing recklessness with sheer heart, and any doubters were forced to listen spellbound.
"I came to this castle, six years ago, knowing nothing of magic. As far as I'd known until I was ten, my parents were drunkards who'd died in a car crash. One day I was nobody, the next I was apparently famous for something I couldn't possibly have done. I still find it impossible to comprehend."
Even with murmurs of confusion from the crowd at his origins, Harry continued to explore his first few days in the Wizarding World. The baffling moments of weird men bowing to him in the street throughout his childhood, the moment when he first saw Diagon Alley and the rapturous delight he'd felt. The occasional laughs and mutual nostalgia he provoked humanised him incredibly for those who saw him as a distant famous figure, who'd now been revealed to be a killer.
He ended up on his approach to the Sorting Hat, wilting under the expectations of so many unknown faces.
"I almost ended up in Slytherin, but my first impressions of the house had been soured by my time in Diagon Alley and on the Hogwarts Express, so I ended up in Gryffindor. Many expected a prodigy in the making, a second coming of our headmaster. It was likely disappointing to not witness the next Dumbledore in the making, but I can't and won't apologize for who I am. There will only be one Dumbledore, just as there will only be one me.
Despite these expectations, some of you welcomed me to Hogwarts warmly. Many were indifferent. And there were some who were outright hostile. In this very castle, I've had some of my greatest moments, even as I've had some of the darkest periods of my life within it. Through it all, Professor Snape has been either a reluctant help or, at times, an obstacle."
Harry gestured to the black drapes hanging over every single table within the Great Hall. As he did so, they flapped with an invisible wind, and Snape was glowering down at them all. He was almost regal in this stately portrait. At the far end of the hall, a full-body portrait of Snape appeared above what would have been his seat at the head table. It slowly came to life and watched on silently as he was remembered.
"More than very few others, I can say I had no love lost for Professor Snape. But what I can say, is that none of the events at Nuremberg Castle would be possible without him.
Bravery takes many forms. It can be bull-headed, it can be deliberate, careful, noble, and in some cases, it can even be foolhardy. Severus Snape was bravery in all these forms. He was not a Gryffindor, but you do not need to be one to defy your fears, to be as strong-willed as he was. In the same way, you don't need to be a Hufflepuff to understand the value of loyalty, a Slytherin to recognise the value of a careful, cunning plan, or to be a Ravenclaw to respect knowledge. Again, Professor Snape was in a way a paragon for all our houses, a lesson for us all.
All I can ask is that you remember him as he was. He was cruel, mean and incredibly unfair. I won't pretend otherwise, but he had an inherent goodness, and it was enough for him to dedicate his life to the defeat of Voldemort."
For once, there were no instinctual cries at the name. Just complete silence, and Harry's open smile faded.
"It's more than many supposedly good people ever achieved in this country. He asked no thanks for his efforts. He expected no recognition for it, even as he played his part, living with all believing him to be little more than a Death Eater, redeemed or not. I'll remember him for that, not warmly but with great respect. I ask you to do the same. A complicated, yet good man."
There was a chorus of applause led by a teary-eyed McGonagall and softly smiling Dumbledore. Slytherin offered a half-hearted applause. The portrait of Snape gave no reaction but an ever-so-subtle dip of his head.
Once it died away, Harry unrolled the copy of the Prophet he'd taken with him and enlarged it with a prod of his wand. The front page in all its gruesome glory. Dumbledore, facing away from the camera towards Voldemort mid-duel. Voldemort's pallid face was half-ruined and robes tattered as he was mauled by a dog of stone again and again. Stood to the far right of the shot, Harry and Blaise watched on with the air around them visibly shimmering with wards.
"Look at him."
A few Slytherins and younger students made to look away. It was a macabre sight, but Harry pinned them into place with his eyes.
"Don't turn away," he ordered, and there was such steel in his voice that few dared to defy him. "Look at him."
He held the newspaper aloft for a long minute, allowing all to imprint the sight of Voldemort's humiliation into permanent memory.
"Would you bow down to this?" He finally asked of them all.
There was a soft muttering of denial throughout the room, and Harry nodded to himself.
"Any misgivings you have about Muggles or whatever, would you mindlessly murder and rape for him? Would you disgrace us all by becoming little more than an animal? This man whose response to any immediate threat to his life was to Disapparate or fly away? Believe me, that is why he did. Would you serve him, a man who could barely serve himself?"
There was a roar of no from Gryffindor, and unbidden, Blaise found himself joining them. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were quick to join in, alongside half of Slytherin led by a fiery Daphne.
"Good. Be proud to stand for decency and humanity, and never forget that Voldemort is little more than a man for all his power. His followers are almost as pathetic as him. Let Bellatrix Lestrange, one of his greatest, be an example."
Harry was impassive as the Hall erupted at that overt threat. Moody was outright grinning at Harry, lifting his ever-present flask of tea in a toast.
"Are you threatening us?" One seventh-year Slytherin girl asked once silence returned.
Harry sidestepped it quite easily. "I'm threatening any follower of Voldemort. They're quite keen to murder my friends and innocents. I don't stand for that, which I hope makes sense for you."
As the hubbub began to intensify again, Slughorn deafened everyone with a cannon blast from his wand. The reaction from Slytherin was practically Pavlovian at this point. Immediate silence descended.
"You'll find that Hogwarts is no longer so neutral on the topic of the Da – Voldemort," Slughorn said harshly. "This includes Slytherin. Recall my warning. Recall it well. Do not let me find you wanting."
"Well said, Professor," Harry said with a gracious nod. "Well said."
Slughorn returned it with a proud incline of his head, and Blaise almost reflexively joined him. Harry's sheer force of presence had him rivetted, but the look of greed in Scrimgeour's eyes as he too took him in stopped him in his tracks. Kingsley and Dumbledore were also giving him a little side-eye, likely sensing more than a little politicking afoot this summer.
Harry turned to Gryffindor table. "Everything that was accomplished these past few months, I couldn't have done any of it without my friends. The downfall of Greyback, Umbridge and Yaxley's schemes, and Voldemort's defeat last night. Ron. Hermione. Blaise. Others too, but you three above them all. Thank you for standing unwaveringly with me. Our path isn't an easy one, but you've yet to falter. I'll always be grateful."
Hermione had her face buried in Ron's shoulder as she softly cried. In stark contrast, Ron had a beaming smile for all who dared look at him as he comforted his girlfriend. Blaise merely nodded at Harry, acknowledging their ever-standing mutual promise, and Harry's harsh gaze softened.
"I'm getting very saccharine here. It's not really my thing, but what I really want to impress upon you all is that there's so much we can achieve when we set aside our differences and work together. Hogwarts is the crown jewel of Wizarding Britain. It's beautiful yet tarnished. Battered, chipped and worn by neglect. It's the only place I've felt at home."
He smiled at them all. Triumphant. Expectant. Determined. Quintessentially Harry, and Blaise found himself falling in love once again.
"Let's make it brilliant once more, and we can only do this together. Hogwarts united."
Harry returned to them under thunderous applause. As every Gryffindor in earshot offered him their praises, Blaise only had eyes for Dumbledore as he ascended the pulpit to retake his place, dabbing at his eyes. They briefly made eye contact to nod at each other. They were mirrors of each other after all, unrestrained pride and appreciation, and Blaise knew with a preternatural surety that they were on the same page.
"Successor? He'll be even better," Blaise said under his breath. It was as much promise as it was certainty.
Speeches from Dumbledore, Scrimgeour, and McGonagall soon followed. Gryffindor naturally won the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup, as they always seemed to do. For once, Blaise was indifferent, even as the celebrations around him were deafening.
And then it was all over. In what felt like no time at all, the first years were joining Hagrid at the front of the Great Hall to travel back over the lake one more time. The heaviness in Blaise's heart was such that he found it hard to breathe.
He was going to miss Hogwarts.
Ron slammed the door to their carriage shut with a grunt. Harry was quick to layer it with every single protective enchantment he could think of. Whilst he wouldn't have minded being joined by the others, there was an inherent kinship that came with the battle they'd participated in.
"We have so much to talk about," Hermione muttered.
There was also that.
Blaise groaned in relief as he got comfortable next to Harry. "Even with the long conversations ahead, I'm glad to have peace and quiet at last."
The walk to the thestral carriages had been trying. Some students outright fled in their wake, terrified of them, whilst others made all manners of demands. Harry had been asked more times than he cared to remember for an autograph.
Ron retook his seat with a laugh. "We're meant to be going to the final Prefect meeting, but they'll be fine without us."
Harry and Blaise stared at Hermione.
"What?" She asked bluntly. "There are some things more important than pointless meetings. Like you three."
It was uncharacteristic for Hermione to be so… sweet.
Blaise stared at her nonplussed. "Are you okay?"
"Just proud of us really," Hermione said with a blush. "The meeting will be fine without us."
"It wouldn't have been completely pointless, you know," Ron said. His expression grew wistful. "I would have loved to see Parkinson's face, considering the Prophet showed her beloved Malfoy being detained by a Weasley."
"Or Snape being revealed to have been good all along," Harry added.
"Patronus," Blaise simply said. His eyes closed and a slow, content grin began to cross his face. Harry felt a little sinful watching him.
"Corporeal Patronus," Harry corrected as Blaise gave him a knowing wink.
Ron chortled. "I think I could maybe handle a thousand Dementors with just the potential of that memory."
They all burst into laughter.
"What you said about Snape, Harry," Hermione said quietly once they'd calmed down. "You almost had me forgetting every nasty thing he'd done. Especially now knowing that he's the Half-Blood Prince."
It took a moment for the words to sink in.
"You're having me on," Harry said immediately.
"What?" Blaise asked.
Ron just smirked at them as Hermione explained Snape's origins.
"So how long have you known?"
"Since just before the first Dementor dispersal," Hermione said. "Ron convinced me to drop it until things cooled down."
"And?" Ron asked with a little nudge of her shoulder before wrapping his arm around her.
"I'm sorry for being so overbearing about the book," Hermione admitted with a solemn earnestness. "I really do care, Harry. I'll do a better job of showing it in the future."
He'd known all along, but Hermione committing to not being as insufferable when they had a disagreement was welcome.
"No problem at all, Hermione. It's not the same without your nagging."
Hermione huffed but returned his smile.
"Now," Ron said. "Let's chat about the guild we all definitely haven't forgotten about."
Hermione sat upright from her lazy lean against Ron's shoulder. "Ron and I were starting to think we'd all forgotten all about it. Rituals aside, who's joining?"
"We need some standards," Blaise said immediately. "This isn't a club. This isn't just a friendship group, as much as I've come to like you all. Yes, Ron, even you. This is a group of people ready to kill for what we believe in, ready to do what must be done."
Harry agreed wholeheartedly.
"And where does that leave Tracey and Daphne?" Hermione asked. "They've been quite distant."
All eyes fell on Blaise.
"I wondered when this would be brought up, but Tracey I fear is still out. She's not found the nerve. Daphne is hesitating, and I'm fairly sure it's about her sister."
It was a shame as Tracey had been the one to really humanise a rude Blaise and cold Daphne. With her friendliness and playfulness, she'd been a brilliant foil to them both. Even if she was a bit uninhibited, Harry quite liked her.
"Have you tried speaking to Tracey?" Harry asked.
Blaise nodded. "Daphne won't let me talk to her about it."
"And you're listening to her?" Ron asked disbelievingly.
"Because she's correct, like usual, and it wouldn't be right."
Hermione's frown only intensified. "It's because Tracey still has a crush, isn't it? Anything Blaise says will be little more than manipulation."
The silence was quite heavy. Harry had suspected as much for a few days now.
"I have a question. One I've had for a long time," Ron said, looking at Blaise. Once Blaise acknowledged him, he continued. "Is something… wrong with Daphne?"
Going by Hermione's lack of reprimand, Harry had a feeling that she'd put him up to this.
"No," Blaise said immediately with a glare. "You have to understand her father has a very traditional view of women."
"Like cattle. Currency," Hermione added. "Tracey's told me about it. Things are backward everywhere you look."
"She's only achieved her freedom by being uncontrollable. By giving little care for any other opinions apart from those of her sister, Tracey, and, very rarely, mine. Astoria's been doing everything she can to repair Daphne's relationship with her father, but she's been disinherited for years now. Either way, everything's going to Astoria as it stands."
"She's quite lucky to not be begging on the streets of Diagon," Ron said quietly.
Blaise laughed. "The eldest Greengrass child on the streets? Her stepmother and father wouldn't live for the scandal."
"She's bulldozed her way through life," Harry said. "I wonder how that Nott and Bulstrode thing will go, given everything you've mentioned of her family."
Blaise nodded before giving them all a cool look. "Don't mention this to anyone. Tracey told me all of this just before our visit to Umbridge's house. Daphne's not crazy or… ill, just troubled. Enough people think she's psychotic or sociopathic in Slytherin. Don't be one of them."
Ron lifted his hands in surrender. "I didn't mean anything bad, mate. Just wanted to know."
Harry soothed him with a squeeze of his thigh. "We've seen the glimpses beneath, but I'll say this, Blaise. They have until the end of the summer. After that, they're out. Still friends, but our plans will be our own."
Blaise didn't look particularly happy about it, but he acquiesced with a solemn nod.
"Thanks for telling us, Blaise," Hermione said. "We won't tell a soul. Let's return to the guild."
They shared their ideas for immediate new additions to the guild. Harry and Ron offered Neville who nobody could deny was a powerhouse in the making. Blaise suggested Dean, focusing on his Muggleborn heritage and skill with Runes for the pending rituals before mentioning his skill in Defence. Hermione took the longest to think it over before deciding on Sue Li. She was almost as diligent as Hermione, and her father had proven to be incredibly skilled in battle.
"Others? As Blaise said, we're going to need standards," Harry said.
Ron was adamant that any future potentials had to be of age, which Harry thought was an obvious attempt to avoid immediately recruiting Ginny and half of Gryffindor. Hermione brainstormed a myriad of entry examinations with Blaise. Harry listened indulgently as they bickered and argued, waiting for them to remember that he existed and had final say. Ron occasionally chipped in when Hermione's demands grew far too outlandish, but he too watched with a growing smile.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, ruddy faced with irritation as Blaise shot down a mark requirement on a potential applicant's Defence, Charms and Transfiguration OWLs for the third time. "Make him see reason please!"
"I'm always reasonable," Blaise said to Hermione's immediate denial.
"How about we do it like this," Harry said after swallowing down a laugh. "Us four will be the core. I lead, you three are my deputies. I'll give you free reign to scope anyone out, but we evaluate them together. Practical examination and a test of character. How's that?"
Hermione nodded hesitantly. "And what will be the examination?"
"Breathe, Hermione," Harry said. "We have all summer to figure it out. We can compare ideas at Bill's wedding."
They discussed their summer. Harry detailed his plans to spend his time with Dumbledore before reuniting with them all at the Burrow. He also shared the news that Dumbledore had pulled some strings with Madam Marchbanks to temporarily extend the NEWT testing period to early October, so that any of them who wished to lighten their schedules could take advantage of it.
Harry and Ron planned to do Defence and Charms.
Blaise planned to do the same alongside Arithmancy.
Hermione initially planned to do everything and see where she ended up, but Ron managed to convince her to reduce it to Blaise's choices plus Transfiguration.
Blaise's plans weren't a complete mystery to him. Reconnecting with his mother in July before joining Harry at the Burrow as his plus one for Bill and Fleur's nuptials. He'd been and remained very hush about their time together in Italy during August, which Harry was looking forward to.
Ron's were a shock to Harry and Blaise. He and Hermione were going to Egypt for the first two weeks of July to visit the Library of Alexandria.
"Who are you and what have you done with Ron Weasley?" Harry asked.
Ron gave him the finger to a chorus of laughter from them all, even as Hermione batted his hand away with a mirthful grin.
"The most complete archive of healing magic on the planet. From Caduceus to Paracelsus. It's all there," he said. At Harry's blank face, he elaborated. "Early healing magic, such as Parselmagic, to the first attempts at using basic Transfiguration to clear the lungs of toxins. Aurelio pointed me there. I told him I had an interest in healing."
"We'll also explore," Hermione said. "Bring you both back something interesting."
Blaise hummed to himself. "On the topic of Parseltongue…"
He gave Harry a significant look as he palmed his wand. Knowing exactly what this was about, Harry hesitated for a moment before nodding. Hermione and Ron deserved to at least know some of it.
"Serpensortia," Blaise muttered.
A baby corn snake with an eye-catching red-and-white banding appeared in the palm of Blaise's hand. It bobbed to-and-fro in confusion.
"Big two-leggers everywhere I look! Where am I?"
Blaise jolted a little at its hissing, provoking it to immediately wrap itself around Blaise's hand before sinking its tiny fangs into his thumb. It only provoked an eye roll from Blaise.
"Go ahead."
"Hello," Harry hissed. "Do you understand me?"
The snake stopped its fruitless assault.
"It speaks! Horrifying!"
Upon receiving the nod from Harry, Blaise banished the snake back to where it'd came without a word.
"As I'd thought, it's just a language," Blaise said. "Even if it's impossibly difficult to learn."
"Creepy as always, but what was that about?" Ron asked.
Compared to Harry, Blaise had it down to a fine science. The glamour on his forehead was almost imperceptible unless you were physically touching Harry. With a wave of his wand, his clear forehead was revealed once more.
"How…"? Ron asked.
Hermione was deadly silent before she jumped in her seat. "You were a Horcrux. It explains so much."
Ron immediately became ghostly white. "How'd you do it? Who killed you? And why are you still alive?"
"I didn't die. Not physically, at least," Harry said. "I would tell you more, but we all need Occlumency. Sooner rather than later."
Blaise rifled through his jacket, unshrinking the textbook Dumbledore gave him. With a wave of his wand, it became four, which he passed around with a scoff.
"Of course he didn't put copy protections on this. All the others did," Blaise muttered. "Conniving, old bastard."
"Hey!" Hermione said.
"If it makes you feel better, he's my favourite conniving, old bastard."
"It really doesn't."
Ron regained some of his colour as he flicked through the book. "You can test us Hermione. You have that book on Legilimency. He planned everything, didn't he?"
Harry for once smiled at the thought of Dumbledore plotting. "And I'm grateful for it."
The remainder of the train ride was spent in companionable conversation. The sun was high in the sky and the weather was brilliantly hot, even with the windows wound down, yet Harry's heart was heavy as they came to a stuttering halt at Platform 9 and Three Quarters.
As Hermione and Ron got to their feet, suitcases in hand, Harry cleared his throat.
"We'll catch up."
Once it was just them, Harry looked Blaise over. It was strange to see him as casually dressed as Harry, having only experienced him dressed as if were coming from a fruitful appointment at the finest tailors of Savile Row. Hermione had actually spluttered in surprise when he'd returned from the loo with his robes in hand. He'd changed into a white vest, a pair of shorts, and a pair of shiny trainers. It was appropriate for the weather, considering it was near thirty degrees, yet it was still an odd sight.
"Not sure I'll get used to seeing you so… Muggle," Harry muttered.
"I wear Muggle stuff often," Blaise said in confusion. "You mean casual?"
Harry nodded.
"I told you I'm helping my uncle move the remainder of his things tonight and tomorrow morning." He gave Harry a winning grin, flexing his toned bicep before leaning down to kiss it. "Dressing like this isn't something I do often, but it does have its advantages."
"You're so arrogant."
"I've got plenty to show off, and you love it."
With a little shake of his head, he pulled Blaise into a long kiss.
"Won't know when we'll be able to do that again," Harry said when they separated.
Blaise smirked at him. "It's for the best. Wouldn't want you to start thinking that such good kisses are common."
"For the best, Blaise?" Harry asked with a soft smile.
"Okay, I misspoke there," Blaise said, frowning deeply. "I'm going to miss you. Don't forget about me whilst Dumbledore turns you into a master of magic."
"Never."
They were amongst the last out of the train. Hedwig hooted companionably in her cage as he and Blaise placed their stuff onto a trolley. The platform was incredibly busy and heartfelt reunions could be seen and heard all around.
"Harry!" Mrs Weasley called, hailing him over with a wave of her hand.
"Come with," Harry muttered to Blaise as he approached.
Percy was with her, alongside Ginny, Ron and Hermione who were chatting together. For the first time in a long while, Percy offered him a warm smile of greeting.
"Hello, Percy and Mrs Weasley. It's good to – "
She drew Harry into a strong hug.
"You're so brave," she murmured into his chest. "Me and Arthur are so proud of you all."
Harry returned it to the best of his ability. He'd expected to receive a lecture about his recklessness. Percy gave him a knowing nod over Mrs Weasley's shoulder at the no doubt befuddled expression on his face.
Eventually, Mrs Weasley released him to turn to an amused Blaise. Harry's smile fell as he watched her take him in, her careless smile fading bit by bit. For a moment, Harry was incredibly happy that Blaise hadn't come out in his usual finery. It would have likely been worse.
"And you must be Blaise Zabini," she said firmly and without warmth. "I'm told you'll be coming to Bill's wedding."
Blaise nodded, his smile melting away at the frosty reception. "Yes. It's nice to meet you, Mrs Weasley."
He offered his hand, which Mrs Weasley took rather lifelessly for a brief shake. It was so horribly awkward, and it only grew worse when Mrs Weasley stepped back to the frowns from Harry and Hermione.
"Mum," Ron hissed. "Don't be difficult. He's decent."
"Ronald," she said in warning.
"It's my fault. I didn't take the breakup well, and I needed someone to vent to," Ginny said with an apologetic grimace at Blaise. She turned to her silent mother. "He's not bad, mum. Honest. I didn't know Harry was gay."
"Neither did he," Ron said.
Percy stepped forward to dispel the tension, a warm smile on his own face.
"Percy Weasley, Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic," he said in his overly officious manner. "It's a pleasure to meet you properly, Blaise. You and Harry were great and have done this country a great service."
They shook hands, though Blaise didn't smile. His walls were slowly coming back up, and Harry knew this could get potentially ugly if Mrs Weasley said something ill-advised.
"Thanks, Percy," Harry said quietly.
Mrs Weasley turned to Harry. "He makes you happy?"
Blaise cut Harry off before he could even open his mouth.
"If you'd given any indication of wanting to talk to me, perhaps you wouldn't need to ask that question?" Blaise asked. "I hope you'll find the required tolerance before I dirty your doorstep in a few weeks."
He took his suitcase in hand from the trolley before nodding at them all. "I'll see you soon, but until then, have a lovely summer."
Mrs Weasley finally found her shame, calling out an apology, but Blaise was disappearing into the crush of the crowd.
"Mum," Ginny said with a groan. "Not every non-Brit is Fleur."
Harry walked up to Ron and Hermione. She swept all three of them into a warm embrace before they bid Harry a see you soon. Ginny even gave him a brief, little hug before shooing him off to her waiting mother. She was contrite, but as Harry hugged her one last time, he made it clear this wouldn't be happening again.
"I'm very serious about Blaise," Harry said in a low whisper once they parted. "If you accept me, you accept him. You've been like a mother to me, Mrs Weasley, but if Ginny can move on, so can you."
Mrs. Weasley nodded stiffly as Ron approached her with a frown, while Harry turned to search for Blaise. He found him soon enough on the other side of the barrier, near the doorway leading to the main building of the station. Blaise stood with his uncle, who was wearing a formal suit and holding a briefcase. His mother, drawing nearly every wandering eye, stood beside them in a simple pink sundress adorned with summer flowers and sandals. Every now and then, she laughed at something Blaise or Armando said. Noticing Harry's unmitigated stare at her dress, she laughed once more, just as brilliantly.
"Darling, come here," she said.
Armando stopped talking for a moment to clap him on the shoulder. Before Harry even finished his greeting, he was returning to his teasing of Blaise about, from what Harry could hear, his long hair and lack of facial hair.
She brought him into a tight hug, leaning to whisper in his ear. "Thank you."
Harry didn't know what exactly she was thanking him for. It could be the sight of Blaise, smiling ear-to-ear as his uncle suggested a goatee and moustache, pointing vigorously to his own as inspiration. It could also be the fact that they were all together once more after what had been a long estrangement. Finally, it could be the events of last night, but Harry quickly decided it was everything.
"No, thank you," he eventually muttered after Vittoria released him.
She looked at Blaise and Armando with undisguised pleasure, and Harry was intensely jealous for a moment, just as he'd once been of Ron, of knowing that Blaise's mother and his uncle loved him so dearly.
Vittoria turned back to him with a knowing smile. "I'm afraid your relationship with my son makes you family. Do you accept?"
"Yeah," Harry said with a lump in his throat, touched and a little frustrated at being read so easily. "I do."
"Correct answer," Vittoria said gently. "Now smile once more. You have a handsome one, which I find myself increasingly fond of. Don't deprive me of it."
Harry couldn't help but blush and grin a little, knowing exactly where Blaise got it from. She gracefully changed the subject to his plans for the summer, listening patiently as Harry went on and on about Dumbledore's massive list of potential visits.
"Speak of him and he appears," Vittoria said.
It was a day for surprises. Dumbledore approached in a surprisingly modern pinstripe suit with Petunia and Vernon following from a healthy distance. The only thing that gave away Dumbledore's inclination to whimsy was the star-adorned pocket handkerchief folded in his blazer.
"Ah, Harry," he said with a soft smile. "It is time to depart, I'm afraid."
Vittoria stepped forward. "Albus, can I quickly introduce you to Blaise's uncle? My dear late Miguel's twin brother, Armando Madeira. Mastery in Astronomy from the Tower of the Heavenward Hand in Congo and obsessive dabbler in Muggle academia. His wife, Lena da Silva, lectures at Castellobruxo in Arithmancy alongside her duties with the Muggles."
Armando was appropriately starstruck by Dumbledore in a way he hadn't been for Harry, barely remembering to offer his hand when Dumbledore offered his. Harry sniggered at Blaise. He was shaking his head in disappointment at his uncle's little fan moment.
As a brief conversation began, Blaise nudged Harry impatiently. "Are they the Muggles? Want me to Curse them?"
"Blaise!" Vittoria said harshly.
Harry shook his head. "What's done is done. They're not even worth that."
Petunia watched on, incredibly curious and visibly charmed by Vittoria. Vernon did little to hide his distaste at the sight of them all, and Harry rewarded his attitude by taking his wand out. As usual, he shrank in on himself.
As Dumbledore finished up with Armando and Vittoria, Harry smiled at Blaise.
"Won't be with them for long. Not even a day, I'm suspecting. There's far too much to do."
Blaise groaned. "Always trying to be the bigger man. You're lucky I love that about you."
Armando jolted to attention, and his shock only escalated when Harry took Blaise into a final embrace and returned the sentiment.
With one final embrace from Vittoria and a handshake from Armando, he walked with Dumbledore towards the first day of a long summer.