Harry had been hoping for a quiet shopping trip.

Really, he had.

But, of course, the universe hated him.

Because just as he stepped into Flourish and Blotts, ready to pick up his books, the crowd shifted—

And suddenly, he was standing face-to-face with Gilderoy bloody Lockhart.

The moment Lockhart saw him, his already obnoxiously bright smile widened.

"Ah! Harry Potter!"

Harry winced.

Lockhart grabbed his arm before he could react, yanking him forward with a showy laugh.

"This is perfect!" Lockhart announced loudly to the gathered crowd, flashing his too-white teeth. "What a marvelous opportunity!"

Harry exhaled sharply. "For what, exactly?"

Lockhart beamed. "Why, for a photo, of course!"

And before Harry could even think about escaping—

Lockhart wrapped an arm around his shoulders, holding him in place.

Harry froze.

Because—no.

Absolutely not.

His skin crawled at the touch, every instinct screaming in warning.

And then—

A second later—

Magic flared.

Not just his.

Theo's.

And Lord Nott's.

And Death's.

The air in the shop dropped several degrees.

The background chatter fell silent.

And before Lockhart could blink, Theo was right there.

Between them.

In his space.

Dark eyes cold, magic coiled and sharp, posture predatory.

"You're touching him," Theo murmured, voice deceptively calm.

Lockhart blinked, startled. "Well, of course I am! It's just a bit of—"

"Remove your hand."

Harry, very wisely, said nothing.

Because Theo?

Theo looked ready to kill.

Lockhart huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Now, now, my boy, no need to be dramatic—"

And then, before he could finish his sentence, Lord Nott stepped forward.

And smiled.

Harry winced.

Because Lord Nott's smile wasn't a pleasant one.

It was the kind of smile that pureblood lords used when they were about to destroy someone beyond repair.

"Professor Lockhart," Lord Nott drawled. "A word of advice?"

Lockhart blinked, caught off guard. "Oh! Of course—"

Lord Nott's smile didn't falter.

"If you ever touch my future son-in-law again, I will personally see to it that you never use your hands again."

Silence.

Absolute. Deadly. Silence.

Harry choked.

Lockhart gawked. "Your—your what?!"

Theo smirked. Pleased. "Oh, didn't you hear?" He tilted his head, voice mockingly polite. "Harry's already taken."

Harry sighed dramatically. "It's true. Devastating, I know."

Lockhart spluttered. "B-but—"

Harry leaned in, his smirk sharp as a blade.

"And just so we're clear, Professor," he murmured, voice silk and steel, "if you ever touch me without my permission again?"

Lockhart swallowed.

Harry's smirk widened.

"I'll break your fingers."

Silence.

Lockhart stepped back.

Theo grinned.

Lord Nott sipped his tea.

And Harry?

Harry picked up his books and left.

Because that was how you handled an idiot.

The moment they stepped out of Flourish and Blotts, Theo turned to Harry, expression unreadable.

Harry sighed, adjusting the weight of his books. "Oh, here we go."

Theo narrowed his eyes. "You let him touch you."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "I did not let him. He grabbed me."

Theo's jaw tightened. "And you didn't hex him?"

Harry smirked. "I was going to, but then you two decided to do the pureblood death glare routine."

Theo did not look amused.

Lord Nott, on the other hand, looked highly entertained.

"Well," Lord Nott mused, taking a slow sip of his tea, "that was certainly a more… direct approach than I expected."

Harry huffed a laugh. "What, threatening to break his fingers?"

Lord Nott smirked. "Oh no, my boy. That was quite reasonable, all things considered."

Theo rolled his shoulders, still radiating irritation. "I should've hexed him anyway."

Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "Merlin, Theo, you can't hex every man that speaks to me."

Theo tilted his head, lips curving into a slow, knowing smirk.

"Oh, Harry," he murmured, stepping into his space. "You vastly underestimate how petty I can be."

Harry felt that.

Deep in his bones.

Lord Nott sighed dramatically. "I am surrounded by children."

Harry grinned. "Yes, but at least we're entertaining."

Lord Nott snorted. "That is debatable."

Harry opened his mouth to reply—

But then—

A horrible, overly sweet voice cut through the air.

"Oh, Harry!"

Harry winced.

Because—of course.

As if his day wasn't bad enough already.

Here came Molly Weasley.

And Ginny.

Theo, at his side, went rigid.

Lord Nott sighed. "Merlin, not again."

Ginny, looking far too excited, rushed forward before Harry could escape.

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. "For Salazar's sake."

Molly beamed. "Harry, dear, we were just talking about you!"

Theo, standing right behind Harry, let out a low, unimpressed noise.

Harry forced a smile. "What a coincidence."

Ginny giggled. "It is a coincidence, isn't it?"

Harry gave her a flat look. "Is it?"

Ginny flushed. "I—I just thought we could talk, you know, before school starts."

Theo stepped forward.

Harry felt it immediately—the shift in the air, the slow, possessive crackle of Theo's magic curling around his own.

Ginny, very pointedly, didn't look at him.

Harry sighed. "Ginny—"

"Oh, don't be shy, Harry!" Molly interrupted, giving him a bright smile. "You know, dear, you and Ginny will be spending so much time together this year. It's important to build relationships early!"

Theo exhaled slowly.

Harry was 90% sure he was about to commit a murder.

Lord Nott, watching this unfold, looked vaguely fascinated.

Ginny batted her lashes. "Oh, yes! And I was thinking maybe—"

Theo moved.

One second, he was at Harry's side.

The next, he was right in front of Ginny, a slow, mocking smirk curling at his lips.

Ginny froze.

Theo tilted his head. "You were thinking what, exactly?"

Ginny's face turned red. "I—"

Theo smiled, pleasant and lethal. "Because I assure you, Ginny, you are not spending time with Harry this year."

Molly gasped. "Now, see here, young man—"

Theo ignored her.

His gaze stayed locked on Ginny, dark and unyielding.

Ginny swallowed. "B-but—"

Theo's smirk widened. "Oh, you thought," he murmured, "that you still had a chance, didn't you?"

Ginny flinched.

Theo leaned in slightly, voice mocking and smooth.

"You poor thing."

Harry tried not to laugh.

Molly bristled. "Now, listen here—"

Lord Nott cleared his throat.

Molly stopped mid-rant, looking at him properly for the first time.

And the moment she did?

Her face drained of color.

Lord Nott gave her a cool, polite smile. "Madam Weasley," he murmured, voice silk and steel, "I would highly recommend you reconsider your words."

Molly's mouth opened. Then closed.

Theo smirked.

Ginny looked absolutely horrified.

Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, this has been fun."

Ginny looked at him, desperate. "Harry, please, I—"

Harry held up a hand. "Ginny."

She stopped.

Harry gave her a flat, unimpressed stare. "No."

Ginny's face crumpled.

Molly huffed, grabbing her daughter's wrist. "Come along, Ginny." She gave Harry a tight smile. "We'll see you at school, dear."

Harry arched an eyebrow. "Will you?"

Molly stiffened.

Then she turned and dragged Ginny away.

As soon as they were gone, Theo exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders like he had just fought a battle.

Lord Nott sipped his tea. "Well," he mused, "that was deeply satisfying."

Harry groaned. "I hate Diagon Alley."

Theo huffed a quiet laugh. "I love it."

Harry side-eyed him. "Of course you do."

Theo smirked, fingers trailing briefly against Harry's wrist. "Well, that was fun," he murmured.

Harry snorted. "For who?"

Theo's lips curled. "For me."

Harry sighed.

Next time?

He was making Theo do the shopping alone.