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Harry waking up to the sight of Hermione, head in lap, isn’t how he wanted to start the morning. Granted, he doesn’t exactly hate it- in fact, for the first few seconds, he smiled in contentment- but there’s this teeny, tiny issue: Hermione and Ron are a couple . Harry shouldn't be doing this, feeling this. He shouldn't have fallen asleep while brainstorming with Hermione last night in the first place.
He’s already burdening them by staying at their flat, getting his stupid feelings involved would complicate things even further. He flushes in hot shame.
Oh god, and Ron. Knowing his jealous streak, he’d probably chase Harry out if he sees them like this.
Hermione is still sleeping, so Harry gets up very carefully, making sure he wouldn’t wake her up. In the middle of trying to flee back to his room, the other bedroom’s door opens and Ron stumbles out, eyes squinting with a line of drool on his face. Harry can’t help but chuckle.
“Morning,” says Harry, and hopes he doesn’t sound too nervous.
Ron hums something unintelligible in reply, before going to the bathroom.
When the door clicks, Harry lets out a sigh in relief. Maybe it’s the guilt that keeps gnawing at him, but the breakfast he proceeds to make is perhaps a tad too fancy. He places Hermione’s cup of black coffee and Ron’s sweet tea on the counter. Along with pancakes, and an oatmeal bowl.
The smell seems to have revived Hermione.
“You’re the best,” she says groggily, coming up to the kitchen. She devours her coffee within seconds. She’s smiling and looking at Harry. Something stirs in his stomach, and he looks away.
“Good morning to you too.” Harry laughs.
“Oh!” She drops a fork into her oatmeal. “Sorry. Let me do this again. Good morning, Harry. Hope you slept well, it couldn't have been that comfortable…”
“No, it was fine. Not that uncomfortable.” He arranges the fruits nicely on the pancakes. “Though I’m afraid I wasn’t of much help, you spent most of the night just-”
“You were a lot of help!” She interrupts. “I needed to run all my ideas to someone who wasn’t familiar with the topic, to get fresh opinions. And… It was very fun. We should do it again, you know Ron can’t stay up like that often.”
Harry wants to agree, but the mention of Ron puts him on the edge again. Hermione has no idea, does she? How can she be so casual about it? Maybe Harry’s overthinking it. They’ve always been physically affectionate, this could just be another platonic gesture.
“Do what again?”
Speak of the devil.
“Good morning.” Hermione turns around with a smile. “It’s about my new research. Harry was helping me last night.” Ron presses a quick kiss on her forehead.
“Research, sure.” Ron waggles his eyebrows, and Harry wishes the ground would swallow him. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
Panic starts rising in Harry. What the fuck! Has Harry woken up in an alternate dimension?
“Just research!” Harry insists. “Nothing happened last night. Really.” He wants to shake Ron and say t hat’s the love of your life! Don’t joke like that! She’s gonna lose it!
Hermione doesn’t lose it. All she does is roll her eyes at Ron, subtle pink dusting her ears, and go back to eating.
Harry doesn’t have time to think about the whole… situation, because suddenly Ron is at his side, peering over his shoulder. “Did my birthday come early?” He asks in that deep morning voice that shoots straight to Harry’s groin. It doesn’t help that he says it so close to his ear.
“No, it’s just- I-” Harry stutters. “You like pancakes.”
Ron seems to take it upon himself to further torture Harry by placing a hand over his arm. “Something wrong? You seem tense.” His voice goes from playful to worry.
Yes! For starters! You’re nearly back-hugging me when you have a perfectly huggable Hermione right over there! Harry thinks to himself. But more worryingly, he doesn’t hate it. Something must be in the water. For him to be so attracted to his best friends all of a sudden… he might faint if these realizations keep hitting him.
“Work.”
It’s technically not a lie, he still worries about finding a new job he likes. But a lot less since moving in with Ron and Hermione. He enjoys waking up early to make breakfast, lazing about, and greeting a tired Ron and Hermione when they get back from their jobs. Occasional solo traveling, and having them greet him when he returns.
“You know you don’t have to.” Ron squeezes, and Harry can’t help but relax into the touch.
“Yes, but.” He sighs. “It feels like I should. You don’t think it’s weird? That I went from Auror to…”
“Househusband?” Hermione quips. She’s at his side as well now. “Good riddance, honestly. This is way less dangerous. And! You’re quite good at it. Who knows how Ron would fare without you.” She gives him a reassuring look and squeezes his hand.
“You can’t cook either!” Ron says, offended.
The bickering continues, but Harry doesn’t pay attention to the words. He’s vaguely aware he’s missing something important, but he can’t place his finger on it. Like Ron and Hermione aren’t letting him in on a secret- then he remembers Hermione should be leaving by now.
He casts a quick Tempus, which makes Hermione squeak. “Oh, god! I’m gonna be late!” She rushes to her bedroom to get ready, and Ron laughs.
Harry elbows him. “You too. George says you’ve been slacking off.”
Ron groans. “It’s not slacking off. I open the shop a few minutes later than it should be open. Your fault, by the way.” He gestures at the counter, and sips his tea.
Harry takes a seat at a stool and digs into his own plate. He smiles into his spoon when Ron occasionally moans while eating. Harry should do this more often. He could do without the guilt, though.
Hermione is rushing towards the door when Ron calls out, “You forgot something!”
She makes a turn to the counter and gives Ron a goodbye kiss on the lips, then Harry. She leaves immediately, completely unaware of the utter shock Harry is feeling . Did she just-
Harry turns to look at Ron and opens his mouth to explain that… what? It’s not what it looks like? It’s clear what Hermione did, very casually at that, in front of him.
Ron’s face could be described as less angry, and more thoughtful. “Harry?” He asks, and Harry jumps in his seat.
“Yes?”
“You didn’t know.” He sets his cup down. “That’s what’s been bothering you. We thought you knew, when we asked you to move in. Taking the next step- was Hermione’s wording, if I remember correctly. You agreed, but didn't really act any different afterwards, so we figured you're taking it slow.”
“What do y-”
Then it clicks. Harry starts laughing. The last puzzle piece, it was this. All of the built up tension is gone.
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh. And Hermione says I’m the one with the small emotional range.” He snickers, nudging Harry's foot with his. “We'll have a proper conversation later, yeah?”
“Ugh. Please.”