Chapter Text
It started with an offhand question from Ginny of all people.
“Harry,” She started, “who do you think is the best looking bloke in the school?”
Harry almost fell out of his seat right then and there. Thank god he didn’t, he decides several moments later, because he’d already given poor Neville one heart attack that day.
“I, uh- what?”
Hermione rolled her eyes from beside him, flipping the page of her book. Ron from his other side took advantage of the moment to sneak a glance at Harry’s work. Ginny herself just laughed.
“What, is it that weird? I’m just curious.” She held her chin in her hand, arms propped up on the table and half finished History assignment in front of her. Neville gave her a look that Harry didn’t quite understand, and Ginny’s grin just grew further.
“I’ve never really thought about it, I guess,” he finally said, which was true, though he wasn’t sure that was the whole truth.
“Well, think about it now.” Ginny continued, but with a glance at Harry’s face, twisted in confusion and guilt, she softened. “I mean, you don’t have to, but if you’re okay with it it might be fun.”
Harry wasn’t sure he was okay with it. But it felt worse the way Ginny looked at him, and the way Hermione and Ron were sharing a look, and the way Neville seemed to be biting away a question. “I- I guess I just need some time to think it over, really. Can I give you a rain check on that?” He hoped the way his friends all deflated slightly at that was just a trick of the light. He was pretty sure it wasn’t.
Ginny nodded, and Hermione slid him a long parchment. “Read over it for me?” She pleaded, and Harry, not sure what else to do, agreed.
They studied for a little longer, in a sort of half-awkward silence Ron did his best to fill with well-times jokes, but the mood had obviously been set. Harry finished reviewing Hermione’s essay, finished up his own after only a few minor critiques, and quickly came up with an excuse to leave. He was pretty sure they all saw through it, but that was something he would deal with later.
It’s not like he had anything against blokes finding other blokes attractive, of course. He was 95% sure Sirius and Remus were a thing, after all. Dean and Seamus had been flirting since the train, Hermione liked girls, Luna and Ginny probably fancied each other. But- it- well- himself? I mean, sure, there were guys like Cedric who were objectively handsome but it’s not like that meant anything. To him, anyway. His thoughts turned, rather abruptly, to the queer couple who lived on #7 Privet Drive, whose kind smiles had been only met with sour looks and, in the privacy of the Dursley home, scorn and slurs.
No, this thought process was just making him feel even more uncomfortable. The pit in his stomach grew, twisting and turning with anxiety. He got to his dorm quickly, grabbing his Firebolt and racing off to go fly, and when he got to the pitch the air was crisp and chilly.
Malfoy was there, though, and that soured his mood. The Slytherin didn’t seem to notice him, though, caught up in his own Seeker drills, and some part of Harry registered that he was- well- a good looking bloke, in Ginny’s words. That made him feel worse, and he tried to push the thought from his mind. Best to practice near the lake, then, or maybe fly a bit closer towards the forest. Getting into a petty fight with Malfoy today sounded even worse than usual.
“Potter! Staring at me, are you?”
Oh Merlin, of course he would notice before Harry could leave.
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” He yelled back up, faking nonchalance, doing his best to walk away.
Malfoy, the prat, dived down from his spot in the air, flying alongside him.
“Trying to spy on me, then?”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Not everything’s about you, Malfoy, I was just looking for a place to fly.”
“You should know by now that I fly at this time every Thursday,” He replied, haughty as ever, and Harry couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
“I don’t keep track of your schedule. It’s not like we’re friends.”
Malfoy scoffed. “I still think you were spying on me.”
“Why would I spy on you?”
“Obviously, for an unfair Quidditch advantage.”
“Quidditch isn’t even happening this year, so there’s no point in me trying to figure out your team’s plays.” Harry pointed out, and then his tone softened a bit, forgetting he was speaking to Malfoy. “Besides, I don’t even know if I’ll keep playing Quidditch after this year.”
The other boy faltered, fumbling for a retort, but Harry kept walking. The chill September air blew through Harry’s hair, but he kept his gaze steady towards his destination, as if wishing hard enough would make Malfoy go away.
“Well- if you promise to keep playing Quidditch, I’ll tell you why Quidditch is cancelled for the season!” Malfoy blurted out, but Harry remained unimpressed.
“I thought you’d want me gone.”
“I can’t beat you if you’re gone!”
Harry didn’t have a response to that, simply sighing. Beside him, Draco was becoming indignant and flustered.
“Just leave me alone, Malfoy,” He finally said after a minute or so of silence, just as they’d reached the lake.
“Why?”
“Because my day sucks, but yours doesn’t have to. Just leave before we get into a fight or something.”
“So the ‘Boy-Who-Lived’ doesn’t have a perfect life?” He sneered.
“Obviously,” Harry responded flatly. “Please, just go. Keep practicing your seeker drills and become better than me, or whatever it was you were trying to do. Just leave me alone.”
Malfoy did not leave Harry alone, but did take the hint to go settle himself under the shade of a large, scraggly tree, and Harry decided that was the best he was going to get from him. Harry took off from the shore, launching himself straight into the air and in moments he’d forgotten everything- Ginny’s question, his friends’ pity, Malfoy’s jabs, the nagging Vernon Dursley voice in his head calling him a freak for even considering this line of thought.
No, up here, Harry couldn’t remember any of that, only the wind whipping his hair and the wood underneath him. He dived closer to the water, reached out a hand to touch it, then pushed himself right back up into the skies, doing dives and sharp turns and loops all the while. Flying was natural, and normal, and didn’t make Harry deal with any bad things at all.
Which is why it was made all the more weird when he landed sometime later to Malfoy and Neville of all people chatting somewhat-politely to each other, both apparently watching him. He landed, pushing the hair out of his face and readjusting his glasses, blinking away lakewater and dust.
“Uh.” he said, registering the two of them. He blinked. Draco’s ears were tipped red, and Neville made something of a choking noise. “Hello?”
“Hullo,” Managed Neville, after a few moments.
“Did I… interrupt something?”
“No, no, we were just-”
“Discussing our favorite candies! Which reminds me, Potter, do you prefer licorice wands or chocolate frogs?” Malfoy interjected.
Harry sat there with his mouth agape for a few moments.
“Close your mouth, it’s impolite,” Muttered Draco under his breath, and Harry promptly shut it, complying more out of shock than agreement.
“I, uh, I suppose I like chocolate frogs? I don’t eat much candy though.”
Neville beamed a bit. Draco just rolled his eyes. “You obviously haven’t had Madame Sucre’s take on the classic licorice wand.”
“Um, no I haven’t, you’re right. Like I said, I don’t eat much candy. I didn’t even know there was another Wizarding brand besides Honeydukes.”
Draco looked scandalized.
“Uh…” Harry looked around helplessly, searching for some sign this was a strange prank or dark magic or something. “What are your favorites?”
“Draco likes his pretentious imported licorice wands, and I like most chocolates.” Neville said, and Harry noted with some fondness that he seemed a touch more confident than Harry usually saw him.
“They’re not pretentious!” Draco shot back, but Neville just smiled.
“Is this… a dream?” Harry muttered to himself, but then shook it off. “So, are you two… friends?” He considered it further. “…More than friends?” That was odd to think, but Neville was a pretty private person.
“No,” They responded instantaneously, both looking more than mildly upset by the implication.
“Are you… Fred and George playing a weird prank?”
They glanced at each other. Neville piped up first with, “You sure you didn’t hit your head mate?”, to which Harry rolled his eyes.
"If you must know,” Draco drawled, “Neville was looking for you, then he came over to demand I leave you alone.”
“...And this lead to talking about your favorite candies, because?”
“Because,” Neville continued, a touch softer, “It turns out Malfoy isn’t completely heartless and was actually worried about you.”
“I was not! I was simply concerned by his unnatural behavior.”
“Of course.”
Whatever this was was too much for Harry, who continued to just stare at the two in front of him. “Alright, then. Well, I’ve got, erm, things to do, so-”
“Did you bring dress robes?” Draco squeaks out, and when the others’ attention turns on him he has the decency to look embarrassed, cheeks red and eyes not quite meeting Harry’s own.
“Yes,” Harry allows. “Just plain black ones.”
Draco nods. Neville clears his throat. Harry is reminded once again to investigate whether he’s been transported to some strange parallel universe.
“Were you headed back to the dorms, Harry?” Neville asks, and at Harry’s confirmation, he stands up a little straighter. “May I come with?”
Draco’s nose twitches, and he looks ready to argue. Harry’s hit his limit on Slytherin dramatics, so he ignores him and smiles at his fellow Gryffindor. “Sure, mate. Uh, good luck on your seeker drills, Draco.”
Draco just clicks his tongue, shoots the two of them a look, and turns on his heel to stalk away.
“Well,” Neville inclined his head, “Shall we?”