{Half A Hero} Hufflepuff!Reader

Chapter 21: A Favoured Missing Toy

Harry immediately tossed his bag onto your bed, and threw himself even heavier after. You, your books and almost the chips went flying. Hermione cast the levitation spell quickly, returning everything (and you) to its rightful place.

"Honestly, Harry. What am I supposed to do with you?" She said, miserably.

Harry covered his eyes with his arm, his glasses fell off his head onto your textbook. You wanted to laugh that he gave the troll you've been open to a new look on life, but you chose not to distract your friends.

"You didn't even check on Snuffs," You said instead. "You just died on my bed and wanted to take me with you."

Harry gave a snort, and chanced a smile for it. He relaxed into the covers, rested his arm on his belly, and stared at your poster above the bed. Hermione did not want this. She wanted acknowledgment for whatever wrong he had just done.

"Nows not the time for your jokes, Y/N." She tutted.

You were trying not to be funny in the first place. Avoiding being funny is an impossible task when you word things the way you do. And now Hermione was irritated with you too.

Ron, however, had sat with Snuffles on the floor. He plucked at the floating chips that had remained untouched, while the puppy boy continued his sulking.

"They're both in a mood, 'Mione. Let them be."

"He had no right to say what he did."

"Oh, go back to your boyfriend." Hazard spat.

He rolled onto his side. The next step was to curl into a ball if this continued. So you continued it.

"Who is your boyfriend?"

"Don't you start with me now."

"I'm just asking."

"Don't."

Ron rolled his eyes. He shook his head for you to not say whatever it was you wanted to stir the pot more. You lay on the bed, head beside Harry's to look up at your posters.

"I'm going to find Raven."

"Now you want your girlfriend."

"Harry!" Hermione burst then stopped. "Fine. Be that way."

And left as quick as her rage did.

You rolled over slightly to get a better look at Harry's face. A look of hurt and disappointment quiet on him. Ron joined you both, lazing on his friend's other side.

"She left us both, mate. Not just you."

"I know." Harry whispered.

"She's joining the Titans, isn't she?"

Harry's eyes lit with surprised hesitation at you. You grinned. Your hazarded guess had been right. Of course they would have asked for her, her mind would be of most use by protecting people.

"And not here dwelling on a problem you two can handle." You added.

Harry absentmindedly reached for a lock of your hair. He twirled it this way and that before saying,

"She said the same thing."

"And who is her boyfriend?"

"Why don't you guess." Ron said, more curious than upset. "You've been guessing correctly for the past few days."

"What if this ruins my streak?"

"You don't trust yourself?"

"This sudden interest is making me doubt."

Harry sighed very loudly at you both, so you agreed to guess. You tried to guess as wrong as possible, but your streak wasn't broken. Not yet at least.

You bolted upright and stared at them. You felt a heavy and hot lava pool in the base of your belly. Usually a sign to forebode. You tried not to. You tried to hope for the best. But how could you when this was the news?

"Malfoy? She's going out with Malfoy?" You said aghast.

"You're reacting just like Harry did."

"How are you taking this so well?"

"They aren't dating." Ron said in denial. "They're working on a case with those nutcases and were paired together."

"Yeah, they said if you agreed then they wouldn't have to have been together."

They did say that. You didn't want extra work, but you hadn't expected them to replace you with Hermione. Just Draco.

As obvious as the choice had been. With all of her classes, leagues and aids to help anything; you would have thought she would have one boundary. One hair to break the camel's back that she wouldn't accept. But you underestimated how selfless she can be.

You felt a little envious, then decided to distract yourself with the other's moods.

"Then what?" You asked. "You can't manage without her?"

"Malfoy and her have been doing their homework together and refuse to give us anything."

"They don't want the whole class getting everything right apparently."

You rolled your eyes.

"You two were just worried about homework?"

"And the Army. She did all the planning."

"I didn't know the army is still on."

"Good to have us trained. Even though your father's doing a better job than Dumbledore-"

"You just feel that way because her dad can't avoid you like the old man." Ron joked.

"Yeah. He listens." Harry said with a slight grin. "He gets me."

You cast more chips to hover above Ron to snack on. He picked very carefully. Turned it around and around before crunching on it slowly.

"You know." He said after considerable thought. "This might not be so bad."

"For now." You added.