The Marriage Law

Realisation

Harry was having a boring day so far.
Though it was a Hogsmeade weekend and he was hanging out with Ron, he couldn't help but feel bored. He'd not seen Hermione or Malfoy since breakfast and that too was nothing but a glimpse of their retreating backs.

After browsing around a few shops, he was sitting with a few guys in The Three Broomsticks when he saw them both pass by the window. Ron had been raving about  Pansy and Lavender since they ordered and Harry was really annoyed so when he saw Hermione holding Malfoy's hand and smiling affectionately as if they were having the best possible time, he scowled. They both were having fun and he was here, so irritated. Hermione should be with him today. They always went to Hogsmeade together and he'd thought it would be the same this time. He should have asked her.

They were probably going to the Hogshead to meet him, he guessed as per their arrangement, so he abruptly finished his drink and excused himself.

As he strode in the inn, still under the sign of goat, his mood was at an edge and seeing the couple still playing with each other's fingers did nothing to improve his state of mind. He tried to calm down and ordered a drink before joining them at their table.

"Hey! "

"Harry! "

"Potter."

Harry looked at their still joined hands on the table and the couple awkwardly retracted their appendages. He shifted his chair a little closer to the brunette witch so he would not have his back to the door and looked over at her cup of Butter bear, the Aberforth version obviously.

"So, where'd you go? I didn't see you around here. "

"Uh. We went to the beach by my parents vacation house. "

"Huh?"

"There's a beach behind my parents vacation house and well, we went there. "

"Oh. I see. "

He was agitated to hear his Hermione taking the blond some place he hadn't ever seen or even known about. As their supposed date progressed, he was more and more annoyed to see the two of them fall into conversation so easily. It was like they'd known each other since forever and he was the outsider. He knew Hermione and even Malfoy tried to get him engaged in the conversation a few times but he was silently seething. He didn't even know why. And what could he possibly say about the convergence treaty of Merpeople of 1753. He'd heard of the thing just now for the first time for Merlin's sake.

As they paid for the meal and headed back to the castle he decided to walk ahead of the other two to calm down a bit. He knew he'd blow up if he saw them making eyes at each other in the middle of some discussion about ancient treaties.

They reached their dorm soon enough and Hermione excused herself to freshen up before meeting up to do their essays. He followed the blond wizard to their dorm as well, fully intent on blowing some things up. He was a bit surprised when Malfoy spelled the door locked and silent.

"Potter. Would you stop glaring at me? "

"You. I...I didn't"

"Yes you were. Since we met in the hogshead. You've been trying to vaporize me with your eyes. "

"I... I was not. "

"You so were. Now tell me why? "

Sighing Harry sat down on his bed.

"You. You just. I didn't even know about that beach and you... You both were talking like you've been friends forever and she was playing with your fingers. She's only ever done that with me. I thought I knew everything about her and she was even flirting...quite lame attempts but I've never seen her do that... Ever. And then that fucking dress and those. Forget it. I'm just..."