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Harry didn’t know exactly how to respond to that, but he didn’t have to as Hermione and Ron entered the pub, clearly looking for someone.

“They’re looking for you.” Draco’s always prominent smirk was back on his face.

“See you back at Hogwarts then?” Harry asked.

Draco nodded. “Hopefully we’ll end up in my bed tonight, we’ve been in yours for three days straight.”

Harry realized how that would sound to someone who didn’t know the situation they were in, and laughed.

Harry noticed that Draco was frowning on Monday morning, as the mail was delivered. He then noticed the owl that sat perched on Draco’s shoulder and the letter in his hands. Draco scribbled something at the bottom of the letter and put it back in the envelope, handing it over to the owl. The owl flew up into the crowd of other owls all bearing mail and Harry was very surprised when it dropped a letter in his lap a few minutes later.

Curiously Harry opened the letter, to find another article inside it. At the top of the article Draco had written: Here’s another one.

Harry looked up to see Draco watching him and nodded minutely. Draco smirked and turned back to what his year mates were saying. Harry quickly got out addressed the letter to Luna and placed it in his bag for Hedwig to bring to her later.

Chapter 25: Snitches and Kisses

As her last class of the day ended, Hermione caught Ron’s look from across the room and nodded discreetly. Ron flashed her a smile and turned to the door. Hermione sat a few rows in front of Harry and Ron in Transfiguration, so they were closer to the door than she was. She smiled slightly when she remembered the small argument they’d had about seating in the first week of school, how she’d been adamant that they should take their own notes instead of always coming to her. After all, when they left Hogwarts, they wouldn’t be able to come to her with every little problem. Secretly, Hermione hoped that they would still come to her with their problems. But they still needed to be somewhat self sufficient. And so, in their first big argument of the year, Hermione had moved her seat up three rows from theirs in Transfiguration. They’d dropped the subject, Hermione secretly thought that Ron had dropped the subject because he didn’t want to upset her and that Harry hadn’t really been part of that decision to begin with, and so Transfiguration was the only class in which Hermione sat far away from her two best friends.

Ron was, as he had asked in their silent exchange, waiting for her near the doorway and the two of them began the walk to the Room of Requirement.

“Harry went ahead.” Ron said awkwardly. He’d been somewhat awkward around her ever since he’d asked her out. If they were alone for a while, he would eventually relax but in the short times that they had alone he was…awkward, there was no other word for it.

“That’s fine. I don’t mind walking with you.” Hermione smiled at the redhead, who was fighting back a blush. “In fact, we could do this more often.”

The two entered the Room of Requirement to find Draco and Harry sitting in what had become “Draco’s Corner”, talking about something in low voices. Draco’s only acknowledgement of their presence in the room was to end whatever conversation he’d been having with Harry. This was the routine. Whenever Harry was with Ron or Hermione, Draco made himself nonexistent, either leaving the room or ignoring them. In fact, the only time Hermione could remember Draco talking in their presence was that one time when Harry’d been stuck on the potions ingredient and Draco had told him what to look for as he left the room. While such behavior around them could be considered insulting, Hermione understood that Draco did it so as not to start any fights with them, and thus upset Harry. Ron still muttered under his breath whenever Draco purposefully ignored them, but Hermione didn’t mind being ignored. In fact, she didn’t know if Draco realized why he was staying away from Harry’s friends, but she knew the reasoning. Any fights that, say Draco and Ron, got into would cause Harry to choose a side. So Draco kept his distance and they allowed him to.

“Ready for tonight?” Harry asked as he joined them. They had decided to work on an advanced healing spell for this DA meeting. It was rather basic, but if you concentrated on it, it would heal and protect you during a battle or duel. Little things like scrapes and cuts could be healed instantly if you got good at it.

“Yes.” Hermione replied.

“When isn’t she?” Ron asked, earning a small shove from the girl next to him. “So, Harry,” Ron asked, shoving Hermione back “When are you going to tell me what made you almost late for Divination?”

Hermione turned to Harry and he could see a lecture beginning to form. “I wasn’t late, Hermione, I was almost late. There’s a difference. And I’ve got a good reason for it.”