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It was a late Saturday night. Ron and Hermione were sitting in the sofa in front of the Gryffindor common room’s fireplace. Harry had already gone to bed after getting fed up with the two of them for telling him that he was over thinking everything about Malfoy. The hearth crackled and popped in the comfortable silence of the empty common room.
“Y'know,” Ron began after fidgeting with his hands for a while, “don’t you think Harry’s a little too obsessed with Malfoy?”
“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, not looking up from her book.
“I don’t know. Maybe Harry likes the git.” Ron said without confidence. Hermione’s head snapped up.
“Harry liking Malfoy?” she asked incredulously. “I don’t know, Ron. That seems pretty far-fetched.”
“No, think about it,” Ron said defensively. “They’ve been going at each other ever since first year. And for what reason? Always bickering and gearing each other up just for the hell of it. They’re pulling each other’s pigtails, but they’re both too stupid to realize.”
Hermione didn’t seem convinced. “Well we do know why they’re like this. Malfoy insulted you and Harry in the beginning of first year, remember? And that’s been going on for the past six years.” She shut her book and leaned back into the sofa as she talked. “And I don’t think Harry’s gay, either. At least, I won’t assume so until he’s told us.”
“I guess,” Ron shrugged.
“Besides, I don’t think I’ve ever noticed Harry looking at guys that way,” Hermione reasoned. “Cho was the first person he liked in the five years we knew him, I think.” Ron tried to think back to how Harry looked at the guys at Hogwarts, but his memory failed him and he quickly shook his head.
“It’s getting late,” Hermione smiled. “We should get to bed.” Ron nodded and got up first, gently pulling her up from the seat. They held hands for the short walk to the staircase, and shared a quick peck on the lips before parting.
“Good night.”
♢♢♢
Weeks passed since Ron and Hermione’s late night conversation, and they hadn’t brought it up since. It was a forgotten and irrelevant conversation — well, at least it was.
Harry came through the portrait hole during one of their free periods, hair more disheveled than usual, tie out of place, overall looking somewhat distressed.
“Oh, where we’re you, mate?” Ron asked. “Hermione’s looking through my potions essay if y — ”
“I have to tell you guys something,” Harry cut in. Hermione wrinkled her eyebrows in worry.
“Does it have to do something with Malfoy?” She asked cautiously. Harry swallowed nervously.
“Yes,” Harry replied. Ron and Hermione looked at each other in slight exasperation. He was going to go off again about how he was up to someth–
“I kissed him,” Harry blurted out.
They froze mid-breath.
“You what?” Ron asked, eyes blown wide.
“I…snogged Malfoy,” Harry said quietly, face slowly turning into a Gryffindor scarlet.
“Hold on — I — you — what?” Hermione stuttered.
“I don’t exactly know what happened,” Harry tried to explain. “I followed him into an empty Transfiguration classroom, and we were fighting like normal — next thing I knew, I had him up against the wall, and we were really close, and…” Harry’s voice faded into nothing as he buried his face into his hands in embarrassment.
“And?” Hermione asked.
“He… leaned in and we started kissing” Harry said, his small voice muffled behind his hands.
“Did you like it?” Ron asked excitedly. Harry only gave back a small nod in reply.
“I knew it!” he yelled. “Hermione, what’d I tell you? I told you Harry liked him — you just wouldn’t believe me — Merlin, I’ve bested Hermione Granger —”
“Oh, hush, Ron,” Hermione said quickly and turned to Harry.
“Harry?” she coaxed. “Um, thank you for telling us, firstly.” He nodded.
“I’m sorry, but just to clarify, have you liked Malfoy for a while? Did you know that you did? How long did you know?”
Harry emerged from his shell, replying, “I only just found out that I like him. Looking back, I reckon I’ve liked him for a while.”
“Does he like you back?” Ron jumped in.
Harry shrugged. “I don’t know. His face was really red afterwards, and he muttered something about when he sees me ‘next time’ when he was leaving.” Ron silently pumped his fist in the air, mouthing yes!, but quickly stopped after noticing Hermione’s glare.
“Well,” Ron grinned clapping his back, “congrats, mate.”
“I hope things work out well between you two,” Hermione said squeezing his hands.
Harry rubbed his face in embarrassment.
“Thanks.”